Chapter 5 - TWENTY-EIGHT MILLION REASONS
By morning, Whitmore House had become a fortress.
Three police vehicles had come and gone.
Arthur’s attorneys occupied the library.
Forensic accountants worked in the study.
Every member of the domestic staff had been instructed not to leave without being interviewed.
And Elena had been advised not to access her own bank accounts.
She sat beside Lily’s bassinet while attorney Rachel Monroe studied the offshore transfer summaries.
Rachel had represented Arthur for almost twenty years.
She was known for being impossible to intimidate.
That morning, however, even she looked concerned.
“Twenty-eight million was transferred in six separate transactions.”
Elena looked at the dates.
“The first was before Michael died.”
“Yes.”
“The other five were afterward.”
“Yes.”
“All into a company registered under my name.”
Rachel nodded.
“And the bank’s records show digital authorizations using credentials associated with you.”
Elena looked up.
“I never had access to the trust.”
“Michael may have provided access indirectly.”
“He didn’t.”
“You need to be absolutely certain.”
“I am.”
Rachel closed the folder.
“Then someone wanted the transactions to look like yours.”
Elena thought of Victoria.
“She had access to Arthur’s office.”
“And perhaps Michael’s.”
“After Michael died, she controlled the household.”
Rachel looked toward the nursery door.
“Who controlled his personal records?”
“Victoria told the staff to box everything.”
“Did you object?”
“I could barely get out of bed.”
The admission hurt.
During the first weeks after Michael’s death, Elena moved through life like a ghost.
She ate because Margaret brought food.
She slept because exhaustion finally defeated grief.
She held Lily because Lily was the only thing that made the world feel real.
Victoria had seemed compassionate then.
She arranged the funeral.
Handled guests.
Coordinated lawyers.
Organized Michael’s documents.
Elena now understood how useful her grief had been.
A knock sounded.
Arthur entered.
He looked as though he had not slept.
Rachel stood.
“The board meeting has been moved to noon.”
Arthur nodded.
“Elena stays here.”
Rachel hesitated.
“The board may ask to speak with her.”
“She stays with Lily.”
Elena looked at him.
“I don’t need you deciding for me.”
Arthur stopped.
Rachel quietly left.
Arthur sat across from Elena.
“You’re right.”
“That was habit.”
“Not authority.”
Elena studied him.
“What does the board want?”
“To freeze control of the family trust until the investigation is complete.”
“That includes you?”
“Yes.”
“And me?”
“Technically, you have no direct control.”
“What about Lily?”
Arthur looked toward the bassinet.
“Michael’s share passes to her.”
“That is what Victoria was trying to change.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Arthur leaned forward.
“Because when Michael died, Lily became the beneficial owner of thirty-two percent of the Whitmore family trust.”
Elena blinked.
“Thirty-two?”
Arthur nodded.
“Michael was my eldest son.”
“He held the largest future distribution.”
“Victoria knew?”
“She knew generally.”
“She may not have known the exact percentage until after his death.”
Elena remembered Victoria’s words.
This child will never see a single dime of the estate.
“She wasn’t protecting your money.”
Arthur’s expression darkened.
“She was trying to control it.”
Elena stood.
“What does she receive if you die?”
Arthur looked at her.
“A marital trust.”
“How much?”
“Approximately forty million in property and investment income.”
Elena stared.
“That wasn’t enough?”
“Greed rarely comes with a reasonable limit.”
A crash echoed from downstairs.
Arthur stood immediately.
Voices followed.
Then Margaret shouted.
Elena rushed into the hallway.
Arthur was right behind her.
At the bottom of the stairs, one of the attorneys was holding papers scattered across the floor.
The library doors stood open.
Victoria was gone.
Detective Reed came through the rear corridor.
“Where is she?”
Margaret pointed toward the terrace.
“She said she was going for air.”
Arthur ran toward the doors.
Elena followed.
Outside, the rain had stopped.
A black sedan was speeding down the private service road.
Reed cursed and grabbed his phone.
“How did she get a car?”
Nobody answered.
Arthur looked toward the security booth at the edge of the property.
The gate was already opening.
Someone inside had authorized it.
Reed ran toward his vehicle.
Then Elena noticed something lying on the stone terrace.
A key.
Not a house key.
A small brass key attached to a tag.
WAREHOUSE 12.
Elena picked it up.
Arthur stopped.
“Where did that come from?”
Elena looked toward the disappearing sedan.
“She wanted us to find it.”
Arthur’s expression changed.
“Or someone wanted us to follow her.”
Elena closed her fingers around the key.
For six months, Michael’s final destination had been hidden from her.
Now the key to that place had appeared exactly where Victoria had escaped.
Elena looked at Arthur.
“I’m going.”
“No.”
“You hid the truth once.”
“You don’t get to hide it again.”
Arthur stared at her for a long moment.
Then he reached for his coat.
May you like
“Fine.”
“But you’re not going alone.”
