Chapter 9 - The Man Who Wrote the Will
Charles Benton had represented Daniel for twelve years.
He had rewritten Daniel’s will after Rachel died.
He had negotiated Nora’s prenuptial agreement.
He had attended Lily’s birthdays.
He had even spoken at Rachel’s funeral.
Daniel wanted Ethan to be wrong.
Marcus did not allow emotion to interfere.
Within two hours, they reviewed Charles’s professional records.
Nothing obvious appeared.
Then Rebecca remembered Rachel had once complained that Charles had insisted on personally handling a routine amendment to her life insurance trust.
Marcus checked.
The amendment had been filed nine days before Rachel died.
Daniel read the document.
If both Rachel and Daniel died before Lily reached adulthood, control of several family trusts would pass temporarily to a management committee.
Charles Benton chaired that committee.
Daniel looked at Marcus.
“He could control everything.”
“For a while.”
“Long enough to move money.”
Marcus nodded.
Daniel called Charles and told him he needed an emergency meeting.
Charles arrived at Daniel’s house at 9:40 p.m.
He looked irritated rather than nervous.
“What is this about?”
Daniel placed Rachel’s journal on the table.
Charles’s face changed for less than a second.
But Marcus saw it.
Daniel did too.
“You recognize this?”
“No.”
“You just reacted to it.”
“I reacted because it belonged to your dead wife.”
Daniel opened the notebook.
“Project Evergreen.”
Charles said nothing.
“Hm-01.”
Still nothing.
“Margaret Sloan.”
Charles finally leaned back.
“You should be careful throwing names around.”
Daniel smiled without warmth.
“That sounded exactly like advice from a lawyer who knows too much.”
Charles stood.
“I’m leaving.”
Marcus blocked the doorway.
“You can leave after you answer.”
Charles looked at him.
“You have no authority to detain me.”
Daniel stepped closer.
“Then walk out.”
Charles looked toward the door.
He did not move.
That told Daniel everything.
“Where is Margaret?”
“I haven’t seen her in years.”
“Ethan says otherwise.”
“Ethan is a thief.”
“He is.”
Daniel nodded.
“But thieves sometimes tell the truth.”
Charles’s eyes hardened.
“You’re emotional.”
“My daughter stopped me from drinking something that could have put me in the hospital.”
Charles stared at him.
“What exactly was in the cup?”
Daniel did not answer.
The question itself mattered.
Police had not released the laboratory results.
Only Daniel, Marcus, Ethan, Nora, and the investigators knew the substance had been in the cup.
Yet Charles had asked what exactly was in it.
Not whether there had been anything in it.
Daniel saw Marcus notice the same thing.
Charles realized his mistake.
He reached into his coat.
Marcus moved instantly.
Within seconds, Charles was against the wall.
The object in his pocket was not a weapon.
It was a phone.
On the screen was an active call.
No name.
Just a number.
Marcus grabbed it.
The call disconnected.
Thirty seconds later, a text appeared.
HAS HE FOUND THE SECOND JOURNAL?
Daniel stared at Charles.
“What second journal?”
Charles remained silent.
Daniel stepped forward.
“What second journal?”
Charles smiled.
And for the first time, Daniel saw the man beneath the professional mask.
“You still don’t understand.”
“Understand what?”
“Rachel wasn’t investigating your brother.”
May you like
Charles looked at him.
“She was investigating you.”
