Chapter 14 - THE GALA OF LIES
Vale recovered quickly.
“I have no idea what that means.”
Elena smiled.
“You don’t have to.”
She walked away.
Arthur saw the exchange from across the ballroom.
So did Reed.
Vale immediately removed his phone.
He sent a message.
Reed’s surveillance team captured the outgoing signal.
The recipient was an encrypted number.
Minutes later, another phone inside the ballroom received it.
Reed traced the device.
Victoria.
She was inside the hotel.
Elena’s pulse quickened when Reed quietly told her.
“Where?”
“Unknown.”
“We know the signal is somewhere between the ballroom and the east service corridor.”
Arthur’s expression hardened.
“She came here.”
Jonathan looked toward the exits.
“Because Vale told her Elena found the evidence.”
Rachel approached.
“The board is assembling.”
Arthur nodded.
“Proceed.”
They entered a private conference room.
Vale joined them five minutes later.
He appeared perfectly composed.
“Arthur.”
Arthur sat at the head of the table.
“Charles.”
Vale distributed the restructuring documents.
“This is simply a protective measure while the trust controversy is resolved.”
Elena stood against the wall.
Vale looked at her.
“This meeting is for trustees.”
Arthur responded.
“She stays.”
Vale continued.
“Horizon Stewardship will temporarily manage reserve assets.”
Rachel asked.
“Why Horizon?”
“Independent management.”
“Independent of whom?”
Vale’s smile cooled.
“Rachel.”
“Must everything become adversarial?”
“When fourteen million dollars disappears, yes.”
Several board members looked shocked.
Vale slowly placed his pen down.
“I don’t know what you’re implying.”
Arthur leaned back.
“That sentence has become very popular around me.”
Vale looked at the board.
“Arthur is under extraordinary stress.”
Rachel pushed a document across the table.
“Then you won’t mind acknowledging this notice.”
Vale read it.
It informed him that the foundation’s finances were under active forensic review.
His eyes moved upward.
“If you proceed with moving the reserves after receiving this notice, you personally certify that Horizon has no undisclosed conflicts.”
Vale looked at Rachel.
“You’re threatening me.”
“No.”
“I’m giving you a choice.”
He should have stopped.
He should have walked away.
Instead, he looked at Arthur.
Decades of arrogance won.
Vale picked up the pen.
He signed.
Reed entered immediately.
“Charles Vale.”
Vale froze.
Reed continued.
“You are being detained in connection with suspected wire fraud, conspiracy, forgery, and misappropriation of charitable funds.”
The board erupted.
Vale stood.
“This is absurd.”
Then the ballroom fire alarm screamed.
Lights flashed.
Guests began moving toward the exits.
Reed looked at his phone.
“Not us.”
Elena instantly understood.
“Victoria.”
Arthur turned.
“Where’s Lily?”
Elena’s blood went cold.
“At the house.”
Jonathan grabbed his phone.
“No answer from Margaret.”
Elena called.
Nothing.
Again.
Nothing.
Arthur was already moving.
Reed blocked him.
“The fire alarm could be a diversion.”
“It is a diversion.”
“For what?”
Elena’s phone rang.
Unknown number.
She answered.
Victoria’s voice whispered.
“You should have stayed with your daughter.”
Elena stopped.
Arthur saw her face.
“Where is Lily?”
Victoria laughed softly.
“Ask Margaret.”
The call ended.
Elena ran.
Arthur followed.
Reed ordered officers to secure Vale.
Jonathan ran toward the parking garage.
Twenty-two minutes later, their cars tore through the Whitmore gates.
The front door stood open.
A lamp was broken in the foyer.
Margaret lay beside the staircase.
Alive.
A cut marked her forehead.
Elena dropped beside her.
“Lily?”
Margaret opened her eyes.
“She took her.”
Elena’s heart stopped.
“Victoria?”
Margaret shook her head weakly.
“No.”
Elena leaned closer.
“Who?”
Margaret whispered one name.
“Charles.”
Arthur stared.
“That’s impossible.”
“Vale was at the gala.”
Margaret shook her head.
“Not Charles Vale.”
Elena understood before anyone else.
There had always been another Charles.
Charles Vale Jr.
May you like
The attorney’s forty-two-year-old son.
A man who managed Whitmore Estate security.
