THE WHEELCHAIR WAS HER BIGGEST MISTAKE

I arrived at the office at 7:20 the following morning.

I hadn't slept.

The letter from my father was folded inside my jacket, and the red ledger was secured in Daniel's possession.

Patricia was already waiting in my office.

She stood beside the window, holding two cups of coffee.

When she saw me, she placed one on the desk.

“Good morning, Marcus.””

I didn't sit down.

“Did you know?””

She looked at me.

“Know what?””

“That you owned part of Hayes Industrial Group.””

Her hand froze around the coffee cup.

For several seconds, she said nothing.

Then she placed the cup down.

“I wondered when you would discover it.””

I pulled my father's letter from my jacket.

“Why didn't you tell me?””

Patricia looked at the document.

“Because your father asked me not to.””

“He's been dead for seventeen years.””

“I know.””

I stared at her.

“You let me believe the company belonged entirely to my family.””

“It does.””

“Then why does my father say the controlling shares belong to you?””

She walked toward her desk and opened a drawer.

Inside was a thick folder.

She placed it in front of me.

“Your father transferred 51 percent of the voting rights to me in 2008.””

I opened the folder.

The documents were authentic.

The transfer had been notarized and registered.

My father had signed every page.

I looked up.

“Why?””

Patricia took a breath.

“Because Richard was trying to take control of the company. Your father needed someone he could trust to hold the shares until you were ready.””

“Why you?””

Her expression softened.

“Because I was there when the company was nothing.””

She sat down.

“Your father hired me when I was twenty-six. I was a single mother with a little girl and no experience in corporate management. He gave me a job when nobody else would.””

I remembered her daughter.

Emily.

She had grown up visiting the office after school. She was now in her late twenties.

Patricia continued.

“Your father treated me like family. When Richard started threatening him, he transferred the shares into my name to keep them out of Richard's hands.””

“And then?””

“Then your father died.””

She looked down.

“I was supposed to return the shares to you when you turned thirty. But before that happened, Richard disappeared, the company went through several investigations, and your father left instructions that I should wait.””

I leaned forward.

“Why did you keep waiting?””

“Because I received a letter from him.””

She handed me another envelope.

It was dated three months before his death.

Patricia,

If anything happens to me, do not transfer the shares to Marcus until you are certain he is safe.

Richard has people everywhere. I believe he intends to use the company to destroy my family.

Protect my son, even if he hates you for it.

I read the letter twice.

Then I looked at her.

“Did you know about the accident?””

Patricia's eyes widened.

“What accident?””

“The truck. The road. The driver.””

“No.””

“Did you know Richard was alive?””

She shook her head.

“Not until last night.””

I believed her.

Or at least, I wanted to.

Daniel entered the office carrying a laptop.

“Marcus, we have an update.””

He looked at Patricia.

“Can we speak privately?””

“No,” I said.

“She knows everything now.””

Daniel nodded.

“We identified the company behind Richard's recent financial transactions. It's called Bennett Medical Holdings.””

Patricia frowned.

“Claire Bennett?””

Daniel looked at me.

“Exactly.””

Adrian's mother.

I sat down.

“What does she have to do with Richard?””

Daniel opened a spreadsheet.

“She's been receiving monthly payments from an account linked to Northbridge Capital. The payments began seventeen years ago.””

Patricia looked at the numbers.

“That's when Richard supposedly died.””

Daniel nodded.

“And there's something else. The company paid Dr. Harrison more than $900,000 over the last five years.””

I rubbed my forehead.

“Why?””

“To manipulate medical records, provide confidential patient information, and administer unauthorized medication.””

My stomach tightened.

“Which patients?””

Daniel looked at the screen.

“Your father was one.””

I stared at him.

“Who else?””

He hesitated.

“Ethan Hayes.””

The room went silent.

“Where is he?””

“We're still tracing him.””

Patricia stood up.

“Marcus, I think you need to know something about Ethan.””

I looked at her.

“What?””

She walked toward the window.

“Your father didn't hide him because he was illegitimate.””

I frowned.

“What are you saying?””

“Your father discovered that Ethan had been diagnosed with a serious neurological condition as a child. Richard used that diagnosis to gain control over his medical records and eventually his trust.””

Daniel looked up.

“Are you saying Ethan was medically manipulated?””

Patricia nodded.

“Your father believed someone had been deliberately keeping him dependent.””

I felt a chill.

“Why?””

“Because the person controlling Ethan's trust would receive the voting rights attached to his inheritance.””

I looked at the documents.

“Who controls it now?””

Patricia's answer came quietly.

“Claire Bennett.””

At noon, a call came from an unknown number.

I answered.

“Marcus Hayes.””

A man's voice replied.

“It's Ethan.””

I stood.

“Where are you?””

“Somewhere safe.””

“Then come here.””

“I can't.””

“Why?””

“Because Richard is looking for me.””

I glanced at Daniel.

“Listen carefully. Richard is no longer hiding. We know about the company, the payments, and the medical records.””

Ethan laughed bitterly.

“You still don't understand.””

“Then explain.””

“My mother died when I was nine. Claire raised me. She told me my father had abandoned us.””

“Your father supported you.””

“He paid for my school and medical treatment. But I never saw him.””

I swallowed.

“I'm sorry.””

Ethan was silent for a moment.

Then he continued.

“When I turned eighteen, Claire told me I had inherited shares in Hayes Industrial Group. She said I could only access them if I signed a management agreement.””

“What did you do?””

“I signed.””

I looked at Daniel.

He began typing.

Ethan continued.

“Two years later, I discovered that the agreement gave Claire control of everything. When I tried to challenge it, she had me declared medically incapable of managing my affairs.””

My jaw tightened.

“Did Dr. Harrison examine you?””

“Yes.””

The pieces were falling into place.

“Ethan, where are you now?””

“I'm at a hotel near the airport.””

“Stay there. I'll send someone.””

“No.””

“Ethan—”

“Marcus, listen. There's a reason I called.””

His voice dropped.

“Claire isn't working for Richard.””

I frowned.

“What?””

“Richard is working for her.””

I felt my stomach turn.

Ethan continued.

“She has been controlling the entire operation for years. The company, the medical records, the fake transfers. Even Adrian doesn't know everything.””

“Why would she do this?””

“Because she wants the company.””

I looked at the documents Patricia had placed on the desk.

“She's already controlling your trust.””

“Yes.””

“And she wants my shares.””

“Yes.””

“Then why hasn't she taken them?””

Ethan paused.

“Because your father left one condition in the original agreement.””

“What condition?””

“To obtain the controlling shares, she needs the signatures of every surviving son.””