Chapter 14: The Room Beneath the Building
The police agreed to accompany us to the commercial property the following morning.
Rebecca had contacted the relevant solicitor, and the documents were being preserved while the authorities assessed the suspected misuse of the trust and the threats against Maya.
Daniel insisted on going.
So did Emily.
I stayed behind with Maya and Lily until Rebecca assured us that the building had been secured and that we would not be putting the children anywhere near the confrontation.
Before Daniel left, Maya hugged him.
"Are you going to find the truth?""
He kissed her forehead.
"Yes.""
"Will Grandma be there?""
Daniel paused.
"I don't know.""
Maya looked at him seriously.
"Tell her I don't hate her.""
He swallowed.
"I will.""
The commercial building stood at the end of an industrial street.
Its windows were dusty, and a faded sign still carried the name of the original business Robert and Martin had operated.
Brooke's car was parked outside.
Daniel noticed it immediately.
"She's here.""
A police officer approached the entrance.
The door was unlocked.
Inside, the building smelled of old paper and damp wood.
Brooke stood near a filing cabinet, holding a cardboard box.
When she saw Daniel, she froze.
"What are you doing here?""
Daniel looked at the box.
"What are you taking?""
"Business records.""
"Whose business?""
"Mine.""
Rebecca stepped forward.
"These premises are connected to an ongoing dispute involving the family trust. You should not remove anything until ownership and preservation issues are clarified.""
Brooke laughed.
"You're bringing lawyers into a family matter now?""
Daniel stared at her.
"You used my daughter's name.""
Brooke's smile disappeared.
"That's not what happened.""
"We found the company registration.""
"You don't understand the structure.""
"Then explain it.""
She looked at Rebecca.
"Do you really expect me to discuss confidential financial matters in front of someone who isn't even family?""
Emily stepped forward.
"I am family.""
Brooke rolled her eyes.
"Of course. You've suddenly remembered that.""
Emily's voice remained steady.
"I never forgot.""
Brooke turned toward Daniel.
"You should be grateful I tried to keep the money within the family.""
"By stealing it?""
"By protecting it!""
"From whom?""
"From people who would waste it.""
Daniel shook his head.
"You mean from me and Emily.""
Brooke threw the cardboard box onto a table.
"You're both acting like victims. Dad left money. Someone had to manage it.""
Rebecca replied calmly.
"Managing assets does not give someone permission to divert them.""
Brooke looked at her.
"You have no idea what I sacrificed.""
Daniel's voice cracked.
"Neither did Dad. You never told him what you were doing.""
For a moment, Brooke looked genuinely wounded.
Then her expression hardened.
"Your father never understood what it takes to keep a business alive.""
"He understood what it means to keep a promise.""
Brooke looked away.
The storage room was beneath the main building.
The key Patricia had given us opened a narrow metal door behind a staircase.
Inside were several filing cabinets, a desk, and a small safe.
Rebecca asked the officers to document everything before anything was moved.
One cabinet contained old invoices.
Another contained property documents.
The third held bank correspondence.
Daniel opened a drawer.
Inside was a stack of envelopes.
Each bore a different name.
Emily.
Daniel.
Harold Bennett.
And one addressed to me.
I picked it up.
My hands were shaking.
"Why is my name here?""
Rebecca examined the envelope.
"Don't open it yet. Let's document where it was found.""
An officer photographed it.
Then Rebecca carefully opened it.
Inside was a copy of the trust succession agreement.
But something had been added.
A handwritten declaration stated that I had agreed to take over the trust in exchange for a payment of $25,000.
I stared at it.
"That's a lie.""
Daniel took the paper.
"She forged your name.""
Rebecca compared the signature with my genuine signature on the legal documents.
"It appears inconsistent, but we'll need formal examination.""
Brooke suddenly moved toward us.
"That document is mine.""
An officer stepped between her and the table.
"Please stay where you are.""
Brooke looked furious.
"You can't just take my records.""
Rebecca replied, "We are preserving evidence relevant to the investigation.""
Daniel turned toward his sister.
"Why did you put my wife's name on a false declaration?""
Brooke's expression changed.
"Because someone had to take responsibility.""
"Why Nia?""
"Because she was the one who started digging.""
I felt sick.
"So you planned to blame me too?""
Brooke shrugged.
"You were already involved.""
Daniel stared at her.
"You wanted to frame me, then Nia, and then use Maya's name to protect the property.""
Brooke's silence was enough.
The safe was at the back of the room.
An officer examined it while Rebecca checked the documents for any reference to its contents.
A small label on the inside of the cabinet read:
*ROBERT CARTER — FINAL RECORDS.*
Emily touched the label.
"Dad's.""
The officer opened the safe after the appropriate documentation.
Inside were two flash drives, a sealed envelope, and a thick ledger.
Rebecca examined the envelope.
It was addressed to Daniel and Emily.
Daniel opened it.
The letter was brief.
If you have found these records, then the property has been targeted again.
The original trust was never intended to finance Brooke's business. The money was placed there to give my children security.
The commercial property was also intended to remain protected. If a sale was attempted without the consent of both beneficiaries, the proceeds must be traced and returned where legally possible.
There is one person who knows where the missing money went.
His name is Peter Walsh.
Daniel looked at Rebecca.
"Who is Peter Walsh?""
She checked the ledger.
"An accountant?""
Emily examined the page.
"No. He was Dad's private financial adviser.""
Rebecca called Harold.
He confirmed that Peter had been involved in Robert's estate planning.
"He retired several years ago," Harold said.
"But I believe he kept his professional records.""
Rebecca asked for his contact details.
Harold gave them.
Then Daniel looked at Brooke.
"Did you know about Peter?""
She didn't answer.
"Brooke?""
Finally, she said:
"He's dead.""
Rebecca frowned.
"How do you know?""
Brooke looked at the floor.
"Because I attended his funeral.""
Emily shook her head.
"Peter Walsh died last year.""
Brooke nodded.
"Exactly.""
Daniel looked at the ledger.
"Then how can he help us?""
Brooke's expression shifted.
"Because he left something behind.""
She glanced toward the safe.
"Something I was supposed to collect.""
Rebecca studied her.
"What?""
Brooke looked at the officers, then at Daniel.
"A recording.""
The flash drive contained several audio files.
Rebecca did not play them in the building. She arranged for the originals to be copied and preserved, then had a specialist examine the files.
That evening, we listened to the first recording at her office.
Peter Walsh's voice was unmistakable.
He was speaking with Patricia.
The trust cannot be used for Northbridge. Robert made that very clear.
Patricia answered:
Brooke needs the money.
Peter replied:
Then Brooke needs to find another solution.
A chair moved.
Then Patricia said:
If Daniel discovers the trust, everything will fall apart.
Peter answered:
The truth is already in the documents.
The recording ended.
Rebecca opened the second file.
This time, Brooke was speaking.
The property transfer has to happen before Emily finds out.
Another voice answered.
A man.
And what about Daniel?
Brooke replied:
He'll sign whatever Mom puts in front of him.
The man laughed.
You're sure?
Brooke's answer was quiet.
He always does.
Daniel looked away.
I reached for his hand.
The recording continued.
And the child?
Brooke answered:
The child is the safest way to hold the property. Nobody will challenge a trust created for a little girl.
Then came the man's question.
What if Nia finds out?
Brooke laughed.
Then we make her look like the person who created it.
Rebecca paused the recording.
Daniel was shaking.
"Who is that man?""
Brooke had been arrested for questioning earlier that afternoon. She had refused to identify him.
Rebecca looked at the file information.
"There may be more recordings.""
She opened the final folder.
Inside was a scanned document signed by Peter Walsh.
It identified the second voice.
*Martin Shaw.*
Daniel stared.
"Martin?""
Rebecca looked at the document again.
"Your father's former business partner.""
Emily shook her head.
"He helped us.""
"Or he wanted us to believe he did," I said.
Rebecca picked up her phone.
"We need to contact the police.""
But before she could dial, Daniel's phone rang.
It was Martin.
Daniel answered.
Martin's voice sounded strained.
"Daniel, listen carefully. You need to stop listening to those recordings.""
"Why?""
"Because Peter Walsh didn't tell you the whole story.""
Daniel looked at Rebecca.
Martin continued.
"Your father didn't leave the property to the trust.""
A pause.
"He left it to someone else.""
Daniel's face went pale.
"Who?""
May you like
Martin whispered:
"Brooke.""
