Chapter 7: The Man Who Knew My Name
My father didn't move.
The phone remained pressed against his ear while the stranger on the other end continued speaking.
“Are you listening, Richard?””
My father glanced at me.
“Yes,” he replied.
“I'm listening.””
“Good. Then listen carefully. You have made a very expensive mistake.””
My father walked toward the window.
“Who am I speaking to?””
“Someone who has been cleaning up your family's mess for longer than you realize.””
I felt Grace move against my chest.
My father lowered his voice.
“If you have something to say, say it.””
The stranger laughed.
“Your daughter should never have been involved in this acquisition. She was supposed to stay away from the company. That was the agreement.””
My stomach tightened.
“What agreement?”” I whispered.
My father raised one finger, asking me to wait.
The stranger continued.
“You think Andrew Whitmore was the problem? Andrew was only following instructions. The real arrangement began long before the hotel was sold.””
My father gripped the phone.
“Who gave him those instructions?””
Silence.
Then the man answered.
“Ask your former chief financial officer.””
My father froze.
“Daniel Foster?””
“Exactly.””
I knew that name.
Daniel Foster had worked with my father for nearly fifteen years. He had been the chief financial officer of Bennett Capital before retiring unexpectedly two years earlier.
I'd met him several times at family events.
He had once brought me a birthday present and told me I reminded him of my mother.
“What does Daniel have to do with this?”” my father asked.
The stranger ignored the question.
“You have forty-eight hours to stop the investigation. Withdraw the acquisition review, remove Danielle from the hospitality division, and destroy the memorandum.””
My father gave a cold laugh.
“You're asking me to destroy evidence?””
“I'm offering you a chance to protect your daughter.””
My father looked at me.
“Don't use my daughter as a threat.””
The stranger's voice became sharper.
“Then perhaps you should remember what happened to her mother.””
The room went silent.
My father's face lost its color.
I felt my throat tighten.
“My mother?”” I whispered.
He closed his eyes.
The call disconnected.
For several seconds, the only sound in the office was Grace breathing softly.
I looked at my father.
“What did he mean?””
He placed the phone on the desk.
“Danielle—”
“No. Don't do that.””
He looked up.
“What?””
“Don't tell me everything is fine. Don't tell me it's nothing. Someone just threatened me using my mother's name.””
My father rubbed his forehead.
Amelia quietly moved closer.
“Richard, should I contact security?””
“Yes. Increase protection around Danielle and Grace.””
I shook my head.
“Dad, I need answers.””
He looked at me for a long moment.
Then he pulled out a chair.
“Your mother died in a car accident when you were twenty-three.””
“I know that.””
“But there was something about the accident I never told you.””
My stomach dropped.
“What?””
He looked toward the window.
“Three weeks before she died, your mother discovered irregularities in one of Bennett Capital's investment subsidiaries.””
I stared at him.
“She was involved in the business?””
“She wasn't an employee. But she had access to certain family financial records. She noticed payments being made to companies that didn't appear to provide any legitimate services.””
“Did she tell you?””
“Yes.””
“What did you do?””
“I asked Daniel Foster to investigate.””
My father paused.
“Two days later, your mother received an anonymous warning telling her to stop asking questions.””
I felt cold.
“And then she died?””
He nodded.
“The police concluded it was an accident. Her car left the road during a storm.””
I stared at him.
“Are you saying it wasn't?””
“I don't know.””
His answer hurt more than I expected.
For years, I had believed my mother's death was a tragedy without explanation.
Now I was being told that the possibility of something darker had existed all along.
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“Because I had no proof. And because I was terrified of losing you too.””
I looked down at Grace.
My daughter was too young to understand any of this.
But I suddenly understood why my father had reacted so strongly to the phone call.
He wasn't only protecting a business.
He was protecting the family he had left.
Amelia interrupted gently.
“Richard, we should examine the original acquisition files. If Daniel Foster was involved, there may be correspondence.””
My father nodded.
“Get everything from the archive.””
She left the office.
I sat down.
“Dad, did you ever suspect Daniel Foster?””
He shook his head.
“He resigned after the company underwent restructuring. He told me he wanted to spend more time with his family.””
“Did you keep in touch?””
“Occasionally.””
“Where is he now?””
“I believe he lives outside Boston.””
Before I could ask another question, Daniel Collins knocked and entered.
“Mr. Bennett, I'm sorry, but we have a problem downstairs.””
My father stood.
“What happened?””
“Mrs. Whitmore has requested a lawyer. She also says she has information about the original acquisition.””
I frowned.
“What information?””
Daniel looked at me.
“She claims Andrew Whitmore was not acting alone. She says someone from Bennett Capital instructed her to approach Marcus Reed.””
My father stared at him.
“Who?””
Daniel hesitated.
“Daniel Foster.””
My father looked genuinely shocked.
“That makes no sense.””
Daniel handed him a printed statement.
“Mrs. Whitmore insists she has evidence.””
I looked at the document.
It contained a short handwritten message.
Tell Richard I still have the original recording.
My father read it.
Then he looked at me.
“What recording?””
I shook my head.
“I don't know.””
Daniel Collins glanced toward the hallway.
“There's something else. Mrs. Whitmore refuses to speak to anyone except Danielle.””
I frowned.
“Me?””
“Yes.””
My father immediately shook his head.
“Absolutely not.””
I looked at him.
“Why?””
“Because we don't know what she's planning.””
I stood carefully, adjusting Grace's blanket.
“Dad, if she has evidence about who arranged the payments, I need to hear it.””
He looked at my daughter.
“And if this is a trap?””
“Then we won't go alone.””
He studied my face.
Finally, he nodded.
“Fine. But security stays with you.””
We left the office.
As we approached the interview room, Victoria Whitmore was sitting at a small table with her arms folded.
Her expensive handbag rested beside her.
When she saw me, she stood.
“Danielle. Thank you for coming.””
I remained near the doorway.
“You said you had information.””
Victoria looked at the security officer.
“I need to speak to her privately.””
“No,” I replied.
“You can speak with everyone present.””
She gave a tired laugh.
“Your father really has taught you to distrust everyone.””
“He's had plenty of reasons.””
Her expression hardened.
Then she reached into her handbag.
She removed a small silver USB drive.
“This contains a recording of a meeting between my husband, Marcus, and Daniel Foster.””
My father stepped closer.
“Where did you get that?””
Victoria looked directly at me.
“Your father isn't the only person Daniel Foster betrayed.””
She placed the USB drive on the table.
May you like
Then she whispered:
“Your mother recorded him before she died.””
