Chapter 9: The Twenty-Fourth Name
For several seconds, nobody moved.
I looked at Margaret.
Then at Robert.
Then back at Margaret.
"My mother died twenty years ago.""
"I know.""
"She died afterI looked at Margaret.
Then at Robert.
Then back at Margaret.
"My mother died twenty years ago.""
"I know.""
"She died after being sick for almost two years.""
Margaret shook her head.
"That is what you were told.""
I felt my legs weaken.
"Are you saying she was murdered?""
"No.""
"Then what are you saying?""
Margaret looked being sick for almost two years.""
Margaret shook her head.
"That is what you were told.""
I felt my legs weaken.
"Are you saying she was murdered?""
"No.""
"Then what are you saying?""
Margaret looked toward Daniel.
"Tell him.""
Daniel shook his head.
"Don't do this.""
"Tell him what happened to his mother.""
Robert toward Daniel.
"Tell him.""
Daniel shook his head.
"Don't do this.""
"Tell him what happened to his mother.""
Robert moved between them.
"Margaret, you don't get to rewrite history because you're afraid of what comes next.""
She turned sharply.
"You were there too, Robert.""
"I was there moved between them.
"Margaret, you don't get to rewrite history because you're afraid of what comes next.""
She turned sharply.
"You were there too, Robert.""
"I was there because Arthur asked me to protect Marcus.""
"And you failed.""
Robert's face tightened.
I stepped forward.
"Enough!""
My voice because Arthur asked me to protect Marcus.""
"And you failed.""
Robert's face tightened.
I stepped forward.
"Enough!""
My voice echoed through the empty shop.
I looked at Margaret.
"Start from the beginning.""
She hesitated.
Then she removed her handbag and placed it on the desk.
"Your mother discovered that Victor was diverting money echoed through the empty shop.
I looked at Margaret.
"Start from the beginning.""
She hesitated.
Then she removed her handbag and placed it on the desk.
"Your mother discovered that Victor was diverting money from the Riverside Community Reserve. She wanted to report it.""
I remembered the recording.
My father had said the same thing.
"Why didn't she?""
"Because she discovered something worse from the Riverside Community Reserve. She wanted to report it.""
I remembered the recording.
My father had said the same thing.
"Why didn't she?""
"Because she discovered something worse.""
"What?""
"Some of the money was being transferred through companies owned by people on the beneficiary list.""
I frowned.
"Who?""
Margaret glanced at the paper in my hand.
"The twenty.""
"What?""
"Some of the money was being transferred through companies owned by people on the beneficiary list.""
I frowned.
"Who?""
Margaret glanced at the paper in my hand.
"The twenty-fourth name.""
I unfolded the document.
There were twenty-three beneficiaries.
The last line contained a handwritten reference.
**Additional-fourth name.""
I unfolded the document.
There were twenty-three beneficiaries.
The last line contained a handwritten reference.
*Additional protected beneficiary — withheld.*
No name.
No account.
Just a number.
24.
"Who was it?"" I asked.
Margaret swallowed.
"Your mother.""
I stared at her.
"Why would my protected beneficiary — withheld.**
No name.
No account.
Just a number.
24.
"Who was it?"" I asked.
Margaret swallowed.
"Your mother.""
I stared at her.
"Why would my mother be a beneficiary of her own fund?""
"She wasn't. She was the person who discovered the missing money and demanded it be returned.""
I looked at Robert mother be a beneficiary of her own fund?""
"She wasn't. She was the person who discovered the missing money and demanded it be returned.""
I looked at Robert.
He nodded slowly.
"Your mother had found a second account. One that wasn't included in the official records.""
"How much money?""
"Approximately six million dollars," Margaret replied.
I stared at her.
"Six million?""
".
He nodded slowly.
"Your mother had found a second account. One that wasn't included in the official records.""
"How much money?""
"Approximately six million dollars," Margaret replied.
I stared at her.
"Six million?""
"That was the amount when she discovered it. It was supposed to be used to protect the original families if the Riverside project ever went ahead.""
"Where is it now?""
Margaret looked at Daniel.
He said nothing.
I stepped toward him.
That was the amount when she discovered it. It was supposed to be used to protect the original families if the Riverside project ever went ahead.""
"Where is it now?""
Margaret looked at Daniel.
He said nothing.
I stepped toward him.
"Where is it?""
Daniel adjusted his jacket.
"I don't know.""
Margaret laughed bitterly.
"Of course you don't.""
Then she turned toward me.
"Your mother confronted Victor. She told him she would"Where is it?""
Daniel adjusted his jacket.
"I don't know.""
Margaret laughed bitterly.
"Of course you don't.""
Then she turned toward me.
"Your mother confronted Victor. She told him she would expose the account and provide the documents to the authorities.""
"What happened?""
"Victor offered her a settlement.""
"She refused.""
"Yes.""
I looked at Robert.
"What does expose the account and provide the documents to the authorities.""
"What happened?""
"Victor offered her a settlement.""
"She refused.""
"Yes.""
I looked at Robert.
"What does this have to do with her death?""
Robert's face had become pale.
"Your mother became ill shortly afterward.""
this have to do with her death?""
Robert's face had become pale.
"Your mother became ill shortly afterward.""
"I know.""
"She was receiving treatment. But Arthur believed someone had interfered with her medication.""
I couldn't breathe"I know.""
"She was receiving treatment. But Arthur believed someone had interfered with her medication.""
I couldn't breathe.
"You're saying my mother's illness wasn't natural?""
Robert looked.
"You're saying my mother's illness wasn't natural?""
Robert looked down.
"We never proved anything.""
I turned toward Margaret.
"Did you know?""
She didn't answer.
"Did you know someone was hurting my mother?""
Her eyes filled.
"Yes.""
The word landed like a blow.
I stepped backward.
"You down.
"We never proved anything.""
I turned toward Margaret.
"Did you know?""
She didn't answer.
"Did you know someone was hurting my mother?""
Her eyes filled.
"Yes.""
The word landed like a blow.
I stepped backward.
"You knew?""
"I suspected.""
"And you said nothing?""
"Your mother made me promise not to tell anyone.""
I laughed once.
It sounded ugly knew?""
"I suspected.""
"And you said nothing?""
"Your mother made me promise not to tell anyone.""
I laughed once.
It sounded ugly.
"Everyone made promises to my mother. And then everyone abandoned her.""
Margaret wiped her cheek.
"She believed the truth would destroy you.""
.
"Everyone made promises to my mother. And then everyone abandoned her.""
Margaret wiped her cheek.
"She believed the truth would destroy you.""
I shook my head.
"Don't use my mother to justify what you did.""
Daniel suddenly moved toward the door.
Robert grabbed his arm.
"Not so fast.""
Daniel shoved him.
Robert stumbledI shook my head.
"Don't use my mother to justify what you did.""
Daniel suddenly moved toward the door.
Robert grabbed his arm.
"Not so fast.""
Daniel shoved him.
Robert stumbled against the desk.
I caught him before he fell.
Daniel reached for the document in my jacket.
I pushed him away.
"Don't touch me!""
He straightened his suit.
"You have against the desk.
I caught him before he fell.
Daniel reached for the document in my jacket.
I pushed him away.
"Don't touch me!""
He straightened his suit.
"You have no idea what you're holding.""
"Then tell me.""
He looked at Margaret.
"You're making a terrible mistake.""
Margaret's voice trembled.
"Maybe I made it no idea what you're holding.""
"Then tell me.""
He looked at Margaret.
"You're making a terrible mistake.""
Margaret's voice trembled.
"Maybe I made it twenty years ago.""
Daniel turned toward me.
"Your father knew the six million wasn't the only money involved. He knew about the offshore account.""
I stared at him.
"What offshore twenty years ago.""
Daniel turned toward me.
"Your father knew the six million wasn't the only money involved. He knew about the offshore account.""
I stared at him.
"What offshore account?""
He smiled.
"The one your mother created before she died.""
Margaret shook her head.
"Daniel, stop.""
He ignored her.
" account?""
He smiled.
"The one your mother created before she died.""
Margaret shook her head.
"Daniel, stop.""
He ignored her.
"Your father moved the remaining money into a trust. That's why Victor needed the original beneficiary list. It identifies the people entitled to claim it.""
I looked at the document.
TheYour father moved the remaining money into a trust. That's why Victor needed the original beneficiary list. It identifies the people entitled to claim it.""
I looked at the document.
The twenty-fourth name.
My mother.
But if she had created the account, why was she listed as a protected beneficiary?
And why had my father hidden it?
My twenty-fourth name.
My mother.
But if she had created the account, why was she listed as a protected beneficiary?
And why had my father hidden it?
My phone rang.
Helen.
I answered.
"Marcus, where are you?""
"At the old shop.""
"Are you with Robert and Margaret?""
"Yes.""
"Listen carefully. I just received confirmation from the financial investigator. We found the six-million-dollar account.""
My heart began pounding.
"Where?""
" phone rang.
Helen.
I answered.
"Marcus, where are you?""
"At the old shop.""
"Are you with Robert and Margaret?""
"Yes.""
"Listen carefully. I just received confirmation from the financial investigator. We found the six-million-dollar account.""
My heart began pounding.
"Where?""
"An offshore trust registered in the name of the original Riverside cooperative.""
I looked at Daniel.
He had stopped smiling.
HelenAn offshore trust registered in the name of the original Riverside cooperative.""
I looked at Daniel.
He had stopped smiling.
Helen continued.
"But there's something you need to know.""
"What?""
"The account was never transferred to Victor Lang. It was transferred to a private beneficiary trust.""
"Whose name?""
Helen paused.
"Your mother's.""
I closed my eyes.
continued.
"But there's something you need to know.""
"What?""
"The account was never transferred to Victor Lang. It was transferred to a private beneficiary trust.""
"Whose name?""
Helen paused.
"Your mother's.""
I closed my eyes.
Then she added:
"Marcus, the trust became active after her death. And according to the documents, you are the sole surviving beneficiary.""
I looked at the twenty-fourth line.
My name wasn't there.
But my mother's was.
"How muchThen she added:
"Marcus, the trust became active after her death. And according to the documents, you are the sole surviving beneficiary.""
I looked at the twenty-fourth line.
My name wasn't there.
But my mother's was.
"How much is in it now?""
Helen exhaled.
"With accumulated returns, the estimated balance is over eleven million dollars.""
The room went silent.
Ele is in it now?""
Helen exhaled.
"With accumulated returns, the estimated balance is over eleven million dollars.""
The room went silent.
Eleven million.
Money that had been hidden for twenty years.
Money that could have changed everything.
I looked at Margaret.
"Did you know?""
She nodded.
"Your father told me after your mother died.""
"Then why didn't you tellven million.
Money that had been hidden for twenty years.
Money that could have changed everything.
I looked at Margaret.
"Did you know?""
She nodded.
"Your father told me after your mother died.""
"Then why didn't you tell me?""
"Because Victor threatened to expose the original transfers. He said if I helped Arthur protect the account, he would destroy my family.""
I looked at Naomi's empty place in my mind.
" me?""
"Because Victor threatened to expose the original transfers. He said if I helped Arthur protect the account, he would destroy my family.""
I looked at Naomi's empty place in my mind.
"Your daughter?""
Margaret nodded.
"He threatened Naomi's future.""
I felt a bitter laugh rise.
"So you sold her future to him instead?""
Margaret began crying.
"I thought I was protecting her.""
IYour daughter?""
Margaret nodded.
"He threatened Naomi's future.""
I felt a bitter laugh rise.
"So you sold her future to him instead?""
Margaret began crying.
"I thought I was protecting her.""
I looked toward Daniel.
"And you?""
Daniel shrugged.
"I was doing my job.""
"Drugging my father?""
His expression hardened looked toward Daniel.
"And you?""
Daniel shrugged.
"I was doing my job.""
"Drugging my father?""
His expression hardened.
"I never touched your father.""
"Then why did you say someone made a decision that went too far?""
Daniel looked at Margaret.
She lowered her head.
The silence answered.
"I never touched your father.""
"Then why did you say someone made a decision that went too far?""
Daniel looked at Margaret.
She lowered her head.
The silence answered more than either of them could.
Robert suddenly reached into his jacket.
"Marcus, there's one more thing.""
He removed a small folded photograph.
It showed my father sitting beside my mother in a hospital room more than either of them could.
Robert suddenly reached into his jacket.
"Marcus, there's one more thing.""
He removed a small folded photograph.
It showed my father sitting beside my mother in a hospital room.
She looked thin and exhausted.
My father held her hand.
On the back was a date.
Three days before her death.
And beneath it, in.
She looked thin and exhausted.
My father held her hand.
On the back was a date.
Three days before her death.
And beneath it, in my father's handwriting, were seven words.
*She knows who gave her the medicine.*
I stared at the photograph.
Then I looked at Margaret.
She shook my father's handwriting, were seven words.
*She knows who gave her the medicine.*
I stared at the photograph.
Then I looked at Margaret.
She shook her head.
"Marcus, I didn't...""
But Robert interrupted.
"Your father told me your mother identified the person.""
"Who?""
Robert looked toward the door.
"She wrote the her head.
"Marcus, I didn't...""
But Robert interrupted.
"Your father told me your mother identified the person.""
"Who?""
Robert looked toward the door.
"She wrote the name on a piece of paper. Arthur took it and hid it.""
"Where?""
Robert swallowed.
"Inside the name on a piece of paper. Arthur took it and hid it.""
"Where?""
Robert swallowed.
"Inside the original Riverside agreement.""
I looked at the document in my hand.
Then at Daniel.
He suddenly lunged forward.
His hand closed around the paper original Riverside agreement.""
I looked at the document in my hand.
Then at Daniel.
He suddenly lunged forward.
His hand closed around the paper.
I fought him off, but he managed to tear one corner.
Robert grabbed his shoulder.
Margaret screamed.
Daniel stumbled backward and hit the desk.
For a moment, nobody moved.
Then his phone slipped from his jacket and.
I fought him off, but he managed to tear one corner.
Robert grabbed his shoulder.
Margaret screamed.
Daniel stumbled backward and hit the desk.
For a moment, nobody moved.
Then his phone slipped from his jacket and landed on the floor.
The screen lit up.
An incoming call.
*Victor Lang.*
I picked it up.
Daniel reached for it.
I stepped away.
"Hello?""
Victor's voice came through immediately.
"Daniel, tell me you have the landed on the floor.
The screen lit up.
An incoming call.
*Victor Lang.*
I picked it up.
Daniel reached for it.
I stepped away.
"Hello?""
Victor's voice came through immediately.
"Daniel, tell me you have the list.""
I said nothing.
"Daniel?""
I looked at the torn paper in my hand.
Then I answered.
"This is Marcus Carter.""
Sil list.""
I said nothing.
"Daniel?""
I looked at the torn paper in my hand.
Then I answered.
"This is Marcus Carter.""
Silence.
Then Victor spoke.
"Where is Daniel?""
"He's here.""
"Put him on the phone.""
"No.""
Victor exhaled sharply.
"Marcus, listen to me. Whatever Margaret has told you, don't believe her.""
I looked at the womanence.
Then Victor spoke.
"Where is Daniel?""
"He's here.""
"Put him on the phone.""
"No.""
Victor exhaled sharply.
"Marcus, listen to me. Whatever Margaret has told you, don't believe her.""
I looked at the woman standing beside the desk.
"Then tell me who gave my mother the medicine.""
Victor was silent.
For several seconds, I heard nothing but faint static.
Then he said something that made the room feel colder.
"Your mother standing beside the desk.
"Then tell me who gave my mother the medicine.""
Victor was silent.
For several seconds, I heard nothing but faint static.
Then he said something that made the room feel colder.
"Your mother wasn't the person we were trying to silence.""
I gripped the phone.
"What does that mean?""
Victor's voice dropped.
"Arthur was.""
I stared at Robert.
Victor continued.
"Your father wasn't the person we were trying to silence.""
I gripped the phone.
"What does that mean?""
Victor's voice dropped.
"Arthur was.""
I stared at Robert.
Victor continued.
"Your father discovered the person who had been stealing from the cooperative. He confronted that person the night he died.""
"Who?""
A long pause.
Then Victor answered.
"Look at the twenty-fourth name again, Marcus.""
discovered the person who had been stealing from the cooperative. He confronted that person the night he died.""
"Who?""
A long pause.
Then Victor answered.
"Look at the twenty-fourth name again, Marcus.""
I unfolded the damaged document.
The line beneath my mother's name had been hidden by the torn edge.
I carefully opened it.
There was another handwritten entry.
Not a beneficiary.
Not a trustee.
A note.
**OriginalI unfolded the damaged document.
The line beneath my mother's name had been hidden by the torn edge.
I carefully opened it.
There was another handwritten entry.
Not a beneficiary.
Not a trustee.
A note.
*Original custodian of evidence — Naomi Reed.*
I stopped breathing.
Naomi.
The girl I had loved for eight years.
The woman custodian of evidence — Naomi Reed.**
I stopped breathing.
Naomi.
The girl I had loved for eight years.
The woman who had called me just a friend.
The woman whose mother had been involved in the missing money.
The woman whose name had appeared in my father's final records.
I looked at Margaret.
She covered her mouth.
And then my phone vibrated again.
who had called me just a friend.
The woman whose mother had been involved in the missing money.
The woman whose name had appeared in my father's final records.
I looked at Margaret.
She covered her mouth.
And then my phone vibrated again.
A new message appeared.
It was from Naomi.
**Marcus, I know you've discovered the list. There's something I've never told you aboutA new message appeared.
It was from Naomi.
*Marcus, I know you've discovered the list. There's something I've never told you about the night your father died.*
A second message followed.
*I was there.*
And a third.
*I saw who walked out the night your father died.*
A second message followed.
*I was there.*
And a third.
*I saw who walked out of the repair shop after him.*
I looked up.
Everyone in the room was staring at me.
Then Naomi sent one final message.
*It was your mother.*
of the repair shop after him.**
I looked up.
Everyone in the room was staring at me.
May you like
Then Naomi sent one final message.
*It was your mother.*
