Chapter 5: The Man Marcus Trusted Most
Marcus didn't sleep that night.
At 1:17 AM, he sat alone in his private office with Laura's letter beside his laptop.
The small USB drive rested next to it.
Downstairs, two security officers were reviewing the mansion's footage. Marcus had instructed them not to let Vanessa leave with any company documents.
Vanessa was staying in the guest bedroom under supervision.
She had cried, shouted, threatened to call her lawyer, and finally gone silent.
Marcus barely noticed.
His attention was fixed on the name in Laura's letter.
*Richard Hale.*
His business partner.
His closest friend.
The man who had helped him turn a struggling family business into a multimillion-dollar company.
Marcus picked up his phone and called him.
Richard answered after three rings.
“Marcus? Do you know what time it is?””
“I need you at my house.””
A pause.
“Is everything okay?””
“No.””
“What happened?””
“It's about Laura's trust.””
Another pause.
Longer this time.
Then Richard said, “I'll be there in twenty minutes.””
Marcus ended the call.
He stared at the phone.
Something about Richard's response bothered him.
He hadn't asked what happened to Ethan.
He hadn't asked whether Marcus was safe.
He had immediately asked about the trust.
At 1:43 AM, headlights swept across the front windows.
Richard entered wearing a gray cashmere coat, carrying a leather briefcase.
“Marcus.””
He walked toward the desk and placed a hand on his friend's shoulder.
“I heard there was an incident with Vanessa.””
Marcus looked up.
“Who told you?””
Richard hesitated.
“She called me.””
Marcus slowly leaned back.
“She called you?””
“Yes. She was upset. She said you were making accusations.””
Marcus gestured toward the chair.
“Sit down.””
Richard obeyed.
Marcus placed Laura's letter on the desk.
“Do you recognize this handwriting?””
Richard glanced at it.
“Laura's.””
“Did you know she established a trust for Ethan?””
Richard's face remained neutral.
“Of course.””
Marcus stared at him.
“You knew?””
Richard nodded.
“She discussed it with me years ago.””
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“Because it was her private arrangement.””
Marcus tapped the paper.
“She says you were helping her investigate someone.””
Richard's expression changed.
“Marcus, she was going through a difficult time.””
“That's what Vanessa said.””
“I'm not surprised.””
Richard opened his briefcase.
“Look, I know you're angry, but you need to think rationally. Vanessa has always been emotional. Laura was suspicious of everyone toward the end.””
Marcus said nothing.
Richard leaned forward.
“Whatever is in that envelope, don't let it affect your decisions.””
Marcus's eyes narrowed.
“Why?””
“Because you're grieving. You're exhausted. You have a young child to protect.””
Richard's words sounded reasonable.
But Marcus noticed something.
Richard hadn't asked to see the letter.
He hadn't asked what the USB contained.
He seemed to know exactly which subject to avoid.
Marcus turned his laptop toward him.
“I haven't watched the drive yet.””
Richard nodded.
“Good.””
Marcus paused.
“Why is that good?””
Richard smiled faintly.
“Because whatever Laura left behind, it might be misleading.””
Marcus slowly closed the laptop.
“Interesting.””
Richard looked confused.
“What?””
“You've already decided what's on it is misleading, and you haven't even seen it.””
Richard's smile disappeared.
“I'm trying to protect you.””
“From what?””
“From destroying your company over a personal dispute.””
Marcus reached into his desk drawer and removed a document.
It was a bank statement.
“Three weeks ago, $85,000 was transferred from one of our corporate accounts to a private company called Reed Consulting.””
Richard's face changed.
“What's that?””
“That's what I'm asking you.””
Richard examined the document.
“Daniel's company?””
“Apparently.””
“Vanessa must have arranged that.””
Marcus watched him carefully.
“Why would you say Vanessa arranged it?””
Richard blinked.
“Because her brother owns the company.””
“I didn't mention Daniel.””
Richard slowly put down the paper.
“Marcus, you're playing games.””
“No. I'm asking questions.””
Richard stood.
“This conversation is over.””
Marcus didn't move.
“Sit down.””
“Excuse me?””
“You heard me.””
For the first time in fifteen years, Richard looked at Marcus as if he were an enemy.
Then his expression softened again.
“Listen. We've known each other a long time. I was there when Laura died.
I helped you raise Ethan. Don't let one letter destroy our friendship.””
Marcus looked at the USB drive.
“Then help me understand something.””
Richard glanced at it.
“What?””
“Why did Laura leave a warning about you?””
Richard's face went completely still.
Before he could answer, Marcus's phone vibrated.
A message had arrived from the security supervisor.
*Sir, we reviewed the footage from the office corridor. There's something you need to see.*
Marcus opened the attached video.
The timestamp showed three weeks earlier.
The office door opened.
Richard walked inside.
He looked around.
Then he opened Marcus's desk drawer.
He removed a folder.
And photographed its contents.
Marcus looked up.
Richard was staring at the screen.
“Would you like to explain that?”” Marcus asked.
Richard slowly sat down.
“I was checking something.””
“What?””
“Company documents.””
“Why were you photographing them?””
Richard rubbed his face.
“Marcus, you don't understand how complicated this has become.””
Marcus stood.
“Then make me understand.””
Richard glanced toward the door.
For a moment, he seemed to consider leaving.
Then he leaned forward and whispered:
“Laura wasn't investigating me. She was investigating a fraud scheme involving your company.””
Marcus's heart pounded.
“What fraud scheme?””
Richard swallowed.
“Someone was using your son's trust to move money.””
Marcus looked at the letter.
“Who?””
Richard's answer came quietly.
“Your accountant.””
Marcus frowned.
“Peter?””
Richard nodded.
“Peter wasn't working alone.””
“Who was helping him?””
Richard looked toward the staircase.
Then back at Marcus.
“Vanessa.””
Marcus felt his hands go cold.
But Richard wasn't finished.
“There's something else you need to know. Laura discovered the scheme before she died. She confronted the people involved.””
Marcus's voice cracked.
“What happened after that?””
Richard looked down.
“She threatened to report them.””
“And?””
Richard finally raised his eyes.
“Two days later, she was admitted to the hospital.””
Marcus stepped backward.
He remembered that week.
The sudden deterioration.
The unanswered questions.
The doctors saying there was nothing more they could do.
He had never suspected anyone.
Not once.
Richard opened his briefcase and removed a second envelope.
“Laura gave me this shortly before she died.””
Marcus stared at it.
“You had another letter?””
Richard nodded.
“But she made me promise not to give it to you unless I was certain the people involved were still active.””
Marcus took the envelope.
On the front, Laura had written four words:
If Ethan is ever accused.
Marcus's fingers trembled as he opened it.
Inside was a photograph.
It showed Laura sitting at a restaurant with a man whose face was partially hidden.
But Marcus recognized the watch on his wrist.
It belonged to Richard.
And beneath the photograph was a handwritten note:
Richard knows what happened to the original trust documents.
Marcus slowly looked up.
May you like
Richard was already standing.
And he was holding his phone.
