Chapter 6 - BELLWEATHER HOLDINGS
Bellweather Holdings was supposed to be an inactive real estate company.
According to public records, it owned two warehouses, a small office complex, and several undeveloped parcels in Connecticut.
According to Caroline’s ledger, it had received almost eight million dollars from accounts connected to Alex’s trust.
Andrew called his attorney, Nathan Brooks, before sunrise.
Nathan arrived at the estate with two forensic accountants by noon.
By evening, the truth was becoming difficult to deny.
Someone had forged Andrew’s electronic authorization.
Someone had also forged Caroline’s signature.
The money had been transferred through three intermediary accounts and ultimately used to secure loans for Bellweather.
Nathan looked across the conference table.
“Do you know who controls Bellweather?”
Andrew already suspected the answer.
Nathan slid over the corporate registry.
“Lucinda Whitmore owns sixty-one percent.”
Elizabeth stood near the window.
“And the remaining thirty-nine?”
Nathan looked at her.
“Martin Vale.”
Andrew felt something inside him harden.
Lucinda and the former CFO.
Together.
Nathan continued.
“If Caroline discovered this, she could have exposed both of them.”
Andrew looked at the green ribbon sealed inside an evidence envelope.
“And if she confronted Lucinda the night she died…”
Nathan stopped.
He understood.
Andrew’s phone rang.
Unknown number.
He answered.
No one spoke.
Then a distorted voice said, “Stop looking.”
Andrew stood.
“Who is this?”
“You lost your wife.”
A pause.
“You don’t want to lose your son.”
The call ended.
Elizabeth rushed toward him.
“What happened?”
Andrew immediately called estate security.
Within minutes, guards searched the grounds.
No intruder was found.
But the threat changed everything.
Andrew moved Alex into the master bedroom and assigned two guards to the hallway.
That evening, Alex asked why everyone was whispering.
Andrew sat beside him.
“Because I’m trying to understand what happened to Mommy.”
Alex looked at the floor.
“Did I do something wrong?”
Andrew’s chest tightened.
“No.”
“Then why did Aunt Lucinda tell me never to talk about it?”
Andrew froze.
“She told you that?”
Alex nodded.
“The morning after Mommy fell.”
“What exactly did she say?”
Alex’s eyes filled with fear.
“She said if I told you what I saw, you would leave too.”
Andrew forced himself to remain calm.
“Anything else?”
“She said people who make families sad get sent away.”
Andrew closed his eyes for one second.
Seven months.
His son had carried that fear for seven months.
Lucinda had not simply depended on his silence.
She had created it.
Andrew kissed Alex’s forehead.
“You will never be sent away for telling the truth.”
Later that night, Andrew found Elizabeth in the hallway.
“She threatened him.”
Elizabeth’s face tightened.
Andrew continued.
“She convinced him that speaking would make me disappear.”
Elizabeth looked toward Alex’s door.
“That explains the mutism.”
Andrew nodded.
Then a security guard approached.
“Mr. Whitmore.”
“What?”
“We found something outside the east gate.”
The guard held out a plastic evidence bag.
Inside was a photograph of Alex leaving school three months earlier.
A red circle had been drawn around his face.
May you like
On the back were five words.
CAROLINE SHOULD HAVE STOPPED TOO.
