Chapter 10: ## Chapter 10: The Man Who Came Looking for: The Man Who Came Looking for Me
The message from Victor Hale stayed Me
The message from Victor Hale stayed on my screen long after Ethan hung up.
**I know where you work on my screen long after Ethan hung up.
*I know where you work.*
I read it again.
Then I showed James.
He immediately took out his phone.
.**
I read it again.
Then I showed James.
He immediately took out his phone.
"Don't respond.""
"Should I be"Don't respond.""
"Should I be worried?""
"Someone who threatens to visit your workplace is someone we take seriously. We'll document everything and make worried?""
"Someone who threatens to visit your workplace is someone we take seriously. We'll document everything and make sure the authorities know.""
I looked at the message.
"My father borrowed two hundred thousand dollars using sure the authorities know.""
I looked at the message.
"My father borrowed two hundred thousand dollars using my name. What if this man actually believes I owe him?""
"Then we'll show him the evidence.""
James made my name. What if this man actually believes I owe him?""
"Then we'll show him the evidence.""
James made several calls. One was to a colleague who handled financial fraud cases. Another was to several calls.
One was to a colleague who handled financial fraud cases. Another was to the bank investigating Northbridge Holdings.
By the time he finished, it was nearly noon.
"Claire, I want you to stay the bank investigating Northbridge Holdings.
By the time he finished, it was nearly noon.
"Claire, I want you to stay somewhere your father doesn't know about tonight.""
I shook my head.
"I can't just disappear.""
"I'm somewhere your father doesn't know about tonight.""
I shook my head.
"I can't just disappear.""
"I'm not asking you to disappear. I'm asking you to protect yourself while we investigate.""
I thought about the café not asking you to disappear. I'm asking you to protect yourself while we investigate.""
I thought about the café.
My manager, Susan, had already warned me that I was close to losing.
My manager, Susan, had already warned me that I was close to losing my position because I had missed two shifts dealing with the family crisis.
I couldn't my position because I had missed two shifts dealing with the family crisis.
I couldn't afford to lose another job.
"I need to go to work.""
James frowned.
"Are you sure?""
"I afford to lose another job.
"I need to go to work.""
James frowned.
"Are you sure?""
"I need the money. My tuition deadline is Monday.""
He nodded reluctantly.
"Then let me arrange need the money. My tuition deadline is Monday.""
He nodded reluctantly.
"Then let me arrange for someone to accompany you.""
At 2:30 p.m., I arrived at the café.
Susan was behind for someone to accompany you.""
At 2:30 p.m., I arrived at the café.
Susan was behind the counter, checking inventory.
She looked up when I entered.
"Claire. Finally.""
"I'm the counter, checking inventory.
She looked up when I entered.
"Claire. Finally.""
"I'm sorry about the last few days.""
She folded her arms.
"I understand emergencies sorry about the last few days.""
She folded her arms.
"I understand emergencies happen, but I need reliable employees.""
"I know.""
"Are you okay?""
I hes happen, but I need reliable employees.""
"I know.""
"Are you okay?""
I hesitated.
Then I told her the truth.
Not every detail.
Just enough.
My father had taken my tuition savings.itated.
Then I told her the truth.
Not every detail.
Just enough.
My father had taken my tuition savings. I was dealing with a legal dispute, and someone had threatened me.
Susan's expression softened I was dealing with a legal dispute, and someone had threatened me.
Susan's expression softened.
"Good Lord.""
"I'm trying to handle it.""
She placed a hand on my shoulder.
"You should have told me sooner.
"Good Lord.""
"I'm trying to handle it.""
She placed a hand on my shoulder.
"You should have told me sooner.""
"I didn't want to bring personal problems into work.""
"You're allowed to be human, Claire.""
I almost.""
"I didn't want to bring personal problems into work.""
"You're allowed to be human, Claire.""
I almost cried.
It was such a simple sentence.
Yet it was the first kindness cried.
It was such a simple sentence.
Yet it was the first kindness anyone had offered me in days.
I changed into my apron and started my shift.
For anyone had offered me in days.
I changed into my apron and started my shift.
For the next two hours, I served coffee, wiped tables, and took orders.
I tried to pretend nothing had happened.
the next two hours, I served coffee, wiped tables, and took orders.
I tried to pretend nothing had happened.
Then the bell above the entrance rang.
A tall man in a charcoal coat walkedThen the bell above the entrance rang.
A tall man in a charcoal coat walked inside.
He was probably in his late forties, with neatly combed dark hair and a silver inside.
He was probably in his late forties, with neatly combed dark hair and a silver watch.
He looked around the café.
Then his eyes settled on me.
"Claire Miller?""
My stomach watch.
He looked around the café.
Then his eyes settled on me.
"Claire Miller?""
My stomach dropped.
I set down the coffee pot.
"Who's asking?""
He dropped.
I set down the coffee pot.
"Who's asking?""
He approached the counter.
"Victor Hale.""
Susan looked between us.
"Can I help you?""
approached the counter.
"Victor Hale.""
Susan looked between us.
"Can I help you?""
Victor gave her a polite smile.
"This is a personal matter.""
I stepped awayVictor gave her a polite smile.
"This is a personal matter.""
I stepped away from the counter.
"There's nothing to discuss here.""
He placed a business card on the counter.
"Your father owes me from the counter.
"There's nothing to discuss here.""
He placed a business card on the counter.
"Your father owes me money.""
"That's between you and him.""
"Unfortunately, your name appears on the loan documents money.""
"That's between you and him.""
"Unfortunately, your name appears on the loan documents.""
"I never signed them.""
Victor studied me.
"That's what I've been told.""
"Then why are you.""
"I never signed them.""
Victor studied me.
"That's what I've been told.""
"Then why are you here?""
"Because your father assured me that you were the owner of Northbridge Holdings and that the money here?""
"Because your father assured me that you were the owner of Northbridge Holdings and that the money had been transferred with your consent.""
I stared at him.
"My father lied.""
He didn't react.
Instead had been transferred with your consent.""
I stared at him.
"My father lied.""
He didn't react.
Instead, he took out his phone and showed me a photograph.
It was a document bearing my name.
, he took out his phone and showed me a photograph.
It was a document bearing my name.
Below it was my forged signature.
"This is your authorization?""
"No.""
"Are you certain?""
I feltBelow it was my forged signature.
"This is your authorization?""
"No.""
"Are you certain?""
I felt anger rise.
"Would you like me to sign it again anger rise.
"Would you like me to sign it again so you can compare?""
Victor lowered his phone.
"Your father said you were difficult so you can compare?""
Victor lowered his phone.
"Your father said you were difficult.""
I gave a humorless laugh.
"That's what people say when you refuse to let them steal from you.""
He.""
I gave a humorless laugh.
"That's what people say when you refuse to let them steal from you.""
He looked at me for several seconds.
Then he said, "I have a business to protect, Miss looked at me for several seconds.
Then he said, "I have a business to protect, Miss Miller. I don't particularly care about your family problems.""
"Then speak to your lawyer.""
"I Miller. I don't particularly care about your family problems.""
"Then speak to your lawyer.""
"I have.""
"Good.""
"But there's something you should know.""
He leaned have.""
"Good.""
"But there's something you should know.""
He leaned closer.
"Your father didn't simply borrow two hundred thousand dollars. He used the house as collateral before selling closer.
"Your father didn't simply borrow two hundred thousand dollars. He used the house as collateral before selling it.""
My blood ran cold.
"What?""
"He represented that it.""
My blood ran cold.
"What?""
"He represented that he had authority over the property.""
"But the house belonged to me.""
Victor's expression changed slightly.
he had authority over the property.""
"But the house belonged to me.""
Victor's expression changed slightly.
"That's interesting.""
"He sold it without my permission.""
"And you're telling me you never authorized the loan?""
"Never"That's interesting.""
"He sold it without my permission.""
"And you're telling me you never authorized the loan?""
"Never.""
He looked toward the window.
For the first time, he seemed genuinely uncertain.
"Your father told me the estate transfer had been completed.""
"It hadn't.""
Victor put his phone away.
.""
He looked toward the window.
For the first time, he seemed genuinely uncertain.
"Your father told me the estate transfer had been completed.""
"It hadn't.""
Victor put his phone away.
"Then I suggest you find out what happened to the money.""
"I've been trying.""
He turned to"Then I suggest you find out what happened to the money.""
"I've been trying.""
He turned to leave.
At the door, he stopped.
"One more thing. Your father has until Monday leave.
At the door, he stopped.
"One more thing. Your father has until Monday morning to settle the outstanding balance.""
"I don't owe you anything.""
morning to settle the outstanding balance.""
"I don't owe you anything.""
"Perhaps not legally. But someone owes me.""
He walked out.
Susan came around the counter.
"Claire, are you okay?""
I nodded, although my hands were shaking.
Then my phone rang.
James.
""Perhaps not legally. But someone owes me.""
He walked out.
Susan came around the counter.
"Claire, are you okay?""
I nodded, although my hands were shaking.
Then my phone rang.
James.
"Claire, where are you?""
"At work.""
"Did Victor Hale contact you?""
I looked toward the door.
"He's just left.""
James went quiet.
"What did he say?""
I explained.
James sighed.
"Listen carefully. We found something in the property records.""
"What?""
"Your father took out a private loan against Grandma's house before he sold it.""
I closed my eyes.
"I know. Victor just told me.""
"There's another problem. The loan agreement lists the property as security, but the signature authorizing the mortgageClaire, where are you?""
"At work.""
"Did Victor Hale contact you?""
I looked toward the door.
"He's just left.""
James went quiet.
"What did he say?""
I explained.
James sighed.
"Listen carefully. We found something in the property records.""
"What?""
"Your father took out a private loan against Grandma's house before he sold it.""
I closed my eyes.
"I know. Victor just told me.""
"There's another problem. The loan agreement lists the property as security, but the signature authorizing the mortgage appears to have been forged.""
I leaned against the counter.
"So appears to have been forged.""
I leaned against the counter.
"So the house was used twice?""
"Apparently. First as collateral for Victor's loan, then as the basis for the later sale.""
"How much was the property worth?""
"Approximately $240,000.""
"And the loan?""
"Two hundred thousand.""
I felt sick.
"Where did that money the house was used twice?""
"Apparently. First as collateral for Victor's loan, then as the basis for the later sale.""
"How much was the property worth?""
"Approximately $240,000.""
"And the loan?""
"Two hundred thousand.""
I felt sick.
"Where did that money go?""
"We're tracing it.""
Then James added:
"Claire, we also discovered that the original buyer of the house may not have been go?""
"We're tracing it.""
Then James added:
"Claire, we also discovered that the original buyer of the house may not have been an independent purchaser.""
I frowned.
"What does that mean?""
"The woman living an independent purchaser.""
I frowned.
"What does that mean?""
"The woman living there, Denise, may have bought it through an intermediary.""
"Why?""
"Because the final funds came there, Denise, may have bought it through an intermediary.""
"Why?""
"Because the final funds came from an account connected to Northbridge Holdings.""
I remembered Denise telling me my father had sold the property from an account connected to Northbridge Holdings.""
I remembered Denise telling me my father had sold the property.
She hadn't known anything.
Or perhaps she had.
Before I could ask, James continued.
.
She hadn't known anything.
Or perhaps she had.
Before I could ask, James continued.
"We need to find out who actually owns the house now.""
My shift ended at six.
"We need to find out who actually owns the house now.""
My shift ended at six.
Susan insisted on driving me to my apartment.
I thanked her and went upstairs.
AsSusan insisted on driving me to my apartment.
I thanked her and went upstairs.
As I unlocked the door, I noticed a white envelope lying on the floor.
There was no stamp.
No return address.
Just my name.
I picked it up.
Inside was a I unlocked the door, I noticed a white envelope lying on the floor.
There was no stamp.
No return address.
Just my name.
I picked it up.
Inside was a photograph of Grandma's house.
On the back, someone had written:
**Your father isn't the only one who knows photograph of Grandma's house.
On the back, someone had written:
*Your father isn't the only one who knows what happened to Margaret's money.*
A second sheet contained an address.
And beneath it were five words what happened to Margaret's money.**
A second sheet contained an address.
And beneath it were five words:
*Ask Denise about the basement.*
I immediately:
*Ask Denise about the basement.*
I immediately called James.
He answered on the first ring.
"Claire?""
"Someone left something at my apartment.""
I read him the note.
He was silent.
Then he asked called James.
He answered on the first ring.
"Claire?""
"Someone left something at my apartment.""
I read him the note.
He was silent.
Then he asked:
"Does the address belong to Denise?""
I checked.
It was.
But there was something else.
The envelope contained a second photograph.
This:
"Does the address belong to Denise?""
I checked.
It was.
But there was something else.
The envelope contained a second photograph.
This one showed Grandma standing outside her house with a man I had never seen before.
The date printed on the bottom was two one showed Grandma standing outside her house with a man I had never seen before.
The date printed on the bottom was two weeks before her death.
And written beside the man's face were weeks before her death.
And written beside the man's face were the words:
*THE ORIGINAL TRUSTEE.*
May you like
the words:
*THE ORIGINAL TRUSTEE.*
