Chapter 8 - The Video Michael Left Behind
Richard moved Emily and the girls to a secure country property outside the city.
The house belonged to Hartwell Capital rather than the family trust, placing it beyond Margaret’s control. Security officers guarded the gates, and every employee underwent a new background check.
Margaret was not told the address.
Richard still did not trust her.
But he no longer believed she was the only enemy.
Nora traced Dominic Hartwell through sealed corporate filings from the 1980s.
Dominic was the younger brother of Richard and Michael’s father, Alexander Hartwell. He had been removed from company records after an internal fraud investigation.
Officially, Dominic died in a boating accident thirty-two years earlier.
No body was recovered.
Two years after his supposed death, Catherine disappeared.
One year later, Margaret married Alexander.
The false identity payments from the girls’ trusts began shortly after Michael started investigating the family’s old accounts.
“They were using the trusts as clean channels,” Nora explained. “Small transfers moved through charitable accounts, education funds, and medical foundations before reaching offshore companies.”
“Why use the girls’ money?” Emily asked.
“Because no regulator expects children’s trusts to fund an international financial network.”
Richard studied the records.
“Michael found it.”
“And someone stopped him before he could report it.”
The doorbell sounded.
Security announced Rosa Delgado.
The housekeeper entered carrying an old laundry bag.
Margaret had dismissed her that morning.
“I found this while packing,” Rosa said.
She removed a cracked phone wrapped in a towel.
“The phone Michael gave me.”
Emily stood.
“You said someone emptied the linen cupboard.”
“They did. But I had already moved the phone.”
“Where?”
Rosa looked embarrassed.
“Inside the laundry-room wall. There is a loose panel behind the detergent shelf.”
Emily thought of the hidden camera blinking above them.
“Margaret recorded us in that room.”
“I installed the camera,” Rosa said.
Richard’s security team immediately moved closer.
Rosa raised both hands.
“Michael asked me to. He believed someone was entering the staff corridor at night. The camera was connected to his private account, not Margaret’s.”
“Then who was watching us?” Emily asked.
“Anyone who gained access after his death.”
The phone was damaged, but Richard’s forensic team recovered several video files.
The final recording had been made the night before Michael’s accident.
Michael stood in his office facing Margaret.
“You drained the girls’ accounts,” he said.
Margaret closed the door.
“Lower your voice.”
“You told me the trusts were protected.”
“They were until you started moving money without permission.”
“It was my money.”
“It belonged to the family.”
“It belonged to my daughters.”
Margaret stepped closer.
“You do not understand what Dominic will do if the payments stop.”
Michael’s anger changed to confusion.
“Dominic is dead.”
“No. And if you continue asking questions, you may wish he were.”
Michael moved toward the safe.
“I copied everything.”
Margaret grabbed his arm.
“You will destroy this family.”
“No, Mother. You already did.”
The video shook as though someone had touched the camera remotely.
Margaret lowered her voice.
“Dominic has Catherine. He has controlled her for years. Every transfer keeps her alive.”
Michael stared at her.
“Does Richard know?”
“No.”
“You let him believe his mother abandoned him.”
“I kept him away from Dominic.”
“You turned us against each other.”
“I kept both of you alive.”
Michael looked toward the camera.
“Where is Catherine now?”
“I do not know. Dominic moves her whenever he suspects someone is searching.”
Michael stepped back.
“Then I will find him.”
“You cannot.”
“I already found Daniel Reeve.”
Margaret’s face changed.
The video ended.
Emily looked at Richard.
“The funeral director.”
“Michael knew him before the accident,” Richard said.
Rosa wiped tears from her face.
“There is another file.”
The next video showed Michael alone in the office.
He held the gray sweater containing the brass key.
“Emily, I do not know who I can trust. Richard may hate me, but he will protect the girls. Find the Night Rose records. Find Daniel. And remember this.”
Michael looked directly into the camera.
“If they tell you I died in the car, ask them why the body arrived at the funeral home before the police identified it.”
A notification appeared on the recovered phone.
The device was receiving a live incoming call.
May you like
The caller identification displayed one name.
Michael.
