Chapter 5: The Man at the Private Club
Alexander Blake wanted to meet the following afternoon.
I agreed, but only after Jonathan arranged for a private room at a hotel and confirmed that his own investigator would be nearby.
I wasn't interested in walking blindly into another Carter family secret.
At 2:05 p.m., I entered the hotel lounge.
A young man stood beside the window.
He looked almost exactly like the photograph Rebecca had shown me.
Dark hair.
Broad shoulders.
Sharp brown eyes.
When he turned, I noticed something else.
He had the same small scar near his right eyebrow that Daniel had received during a childhood baseball game.
"Ms. Carter?"" he asked.
"Amara is fine.""
He offered his hand.
"Alexander Blake.""
I shook it.
"Let's get straight to the point. Why did you contact me?""
He glanced toward the empty chairs.
"Please, sit.""
I remained standing.
"Talk.""
He nodded, apparently understanding that I wasn't there to exchange family pleasantries.
"My father was Nathan Carter.""
"Rebecca told me.""
"Then she told you he was Richard's son?""
"Yes.""
Alexander gave a humorless smile.
"She left out a few things.""
I folded my arms.
"Such as?""
He reached into his briefcase and removed an old photograph.
It showed three people standing outside a large house.
Richard Carter.
A woman I assumed was Eleanor.
And a little boy.
"That's my father," Alexander said, pointing to the child.
I studied the picture.
"How old was he?""
"About six.""
"And you?""
"I was born much later. My father died when I was twelve.""
"I'm sorry.""
He nodded.
"Before he died, he told me Richard had promised to provide for him. He said there was a trust. But he never wanted to fight the family over money.""
"Then why are you involved now?""
Alexander looked directly at me.
"Because someone tried to have me declared an illegitimate claimant.""
I frowned.
"Who?""
"Daniel Carter.""
My stomach tightened.
"How?""
Alexander pulled out a legal notice.
"An attorney representing Daniel challenged my father's paternity. They claimed the documents Eleanor left behind were fraudulent.""
"Did they have evidence?""
"No. But they had enough influence to delay everything.""
He took a sip of water.
"Then, three months ago, I received a package.""
"From whom?""
"An anonymous sender.""
He placed a small envelope on the table.
Inside was a photocopy of an old medical report.
The name at the top was Richard Carter.
I scanned the page.
The report described a medical emergency that had occurred six years earlier.
I looked at Alexander.
"Your grandfather died six years ago.""
"Yes.""
"Why are you showing me this?""
"Look at the date.""
I checked.
The report was dated three days before Richard's death.
There was a handwritten note at the bottom.
Patient reports recent poisoning symptoms. Toxicology requested.
My mouth went dry.
"Are you saying someone poisoned him?""
"I'm saying his death was never properly investigated.""
"Was it ruled suspicious?""
"No. The family reported a sudden cardiac event.""
I looked at the report again.
"Who was with him?""
Alexander leaned back.
"Daniel.""
I felt a cold sensation crawl up my arms.
"You're accusing my ex-husband of killing his father?""
"I'm telling you that Daniel was the last person to visit him before he was admitted to the hospital.""
"That's not proof.""
"I know.""
He reached into the briefcase again.
This time he produced a flash drive.
"My father kept copies of everything Richard sent him. Letters, bank transfers, legal instructions. There are recordings too.""
I stared at the device.
"Have you listened to them?""
"Some.""
"Why haven't you taken them to the police?""
"Because the last person who tried to investigate Richard's death disappeared.""
I froze.
"What?""
"An accountant named Thomas Keller. He worked for the family investment company. He contacted me shortly before he vanished.""
"Vanished?""
"His car was found abandoned outside Boston. His apartment had been cleared. His bank accounts were emptied.""
I stared at him.
"Did you report it?""
"Yes. The police couldn't establish a connection to Richard's death.""
He pushed the flash drive toward me.
"Listen to this.""
I hesitated.
Then I took out my laptop.
Alexander opened a file.
A recording began.
At first, there was only background noise.
Then a man's voice.
Richard Carter.
"If anything happens to me, the trust must remain independent. Daniel cannot be allowed to control it.""
A second voice responded.
I recognized it immediately.
Rebecca.
"Richard, you're being paranoid.""
"I know my son. He's already asking questions about the amendments.""
"Daniel is under pressure. His business isn't doing well.""
"That's no excuse.""
A pause.
Then Richard spoke again.
"Amara is different. She has integrity. If Daniel ever leaves her, make sure she receives what I promised.""
My eyes stung.
Richard had believed in me.
Even when his own son didn't.
The recording continued.
"There's something else," Richard said.
"The original beneficiary documents must be kept separate from the company records.""
Rebecca asked, "Where?""
Richard lowered his voice.
"Under the old restaurant property. Nobody would think to look there.""
The recording ended.
I stared at the laptop.
"The old restaurant property?""
Alexander nodded.
"Richard owned a restaurant before he became a major investor. It was called The Willow.""
I remembered the name.
Richard had mentioned it once during a dinner.
He said it was where he learned that good food could bring people together.
"Where is it?""
"Closed. The building was sold years ago.""
I looked at him.
"Then how do we find the documents?""
Alexander took out another piece of paper.
"That's why I contacted you.""
It was a copy of a property deed.
The old restaurant had been transferred into a holding company.
And the current registered director was...
I read the name twice.
*Daniel Carter.*
My hands went cold.
"Daniel owns the property?""
"Apparently.""
"Why would he keep it?""
"Because he knows what's inside.""
I leaned forward.
"How do you know?""
Alexander pulled out his phone and showed me a photograph.
It was taken through a window.
Daniel stood inside an old building, holding a metal box.
Beside him was Vanessa.
They were looking at a collection of documents spread across a wooden table.
I stared at the picture.
"When was this taken?""
"Last week.""
"Who took it?""
"My investigator.""
I zoomed in.
Daniel was holding a document with Richard's signature.
Vanessa was pointing at something on the table.
Then I noticed a second photograph.
It showed a close-up of a page.
The heading read:
CONFIDENTIAL BENEFICIARY DECLARATION.
Beneath it were two names.
Lily Carter.
And another name I didn't recognize.
*Sophie Carter.*
I looked at Alexander.
"Who is Sophie?""
He hesitated.
"That's what I was hoping you could help me discover.""
I shook my head.
"I've never heard of her.""
Alexander looked uncomfortable.
"There's one more thing.""
"What?""
"Daniel has been making payments to someone under that name for years.""
I felt my chest tighten.
"How much?""
"More than three million dollars.""
I stared at him.
Three million.
Every month?
Every year?
Why?
Before I could ask another question, my phone rang.
Jonathan.
I answered immediately.
"What's wrong?""
"Amara, I need you to come to my office.""
"Why?""
"I've received a message from Daniel's attorney.""
"What did he say?""
Jonathan hesitated.
"They're filing an emergency petition for temporary guardianship of Lily.""
My blood ran cold.
"On what grounds?""
"They're alleging that you concealed Daniel's biological daughter and deliberately interfered with his parental rights.""
I stood so quickly my chair fell backward.
"He hasn't seen her in five years!""
"I know. But they're asking for immediate court intervention.""
I looked at Alexander.
He had heard everything.
"Jonathan, can they take Lily away from me?""
"Not without a hearing. But I need you here now.""
I ended the call.
Alexander stood.
"Amara, listen to me. Daniel isn't trying to become a father.""
"Then what is he trying to do?""
May you like
Alexander's face hardened.
"He's trying to get control of the trust before the court discovers who Sophie Carter really is.""
