Chapter 11: The Man Emily Met in Secret
I stared at the photograph until the edges blurred.
Emily was wearing the blue coat I had bought her for our anniversary.
Her hair was tied back.
She was blurred.
Emily was wearing the blue coat I had bought her for our anniversary.
Her hair was tied back.
She was standing beside a tall man with dark hair, holding a folder between them.
They weren't touching.
But they were standing beside a tall man with dark hair, holding a folder between them.
They weren't touching.
But they were close enough to suggest they knew each other.
I looked at James.
"Can you identify close enough to suggest they knew each other.
I looked at James.
"Can you identify him?""
James enlarged the image.
"Not from this photograph alone.""
I studied Emily's face.
She looked serious him?""
James enlarged the image.
"Not from this photograph alone.""
I studied Emily's face.
She looked serious.
Not frightened.
Not angry.
Serious.
There was something familiar about the man's posture, but I couldn't place it.
"Why would Vanessa send this.
Not frightened.
Not angry.
Serious.
There was something familiar about the man's posture, but I couldn't place it.
"Why would Vanessa send this?""
"To provoke you," James replied.
"She wants you distracted from the financial records.""
"Or she?""
"To provoke you," James replied.
"She wants you distracted from the financial records.""
"Or she wants me to believe Emily was hiding something.""
James placed the photograph beside the other documents.
"Those possibilities aren't mutually exclusive.""
I wants me to believe Emily was hiding something.""
James placed the photograph beside the other documents.
"Those possibilities aren't mutually exclusive.""
I called Vanessa.
She answered immediately.
"Finally.""
"Who is the man in the photograph?""
She called Vanessa.
She answered immediately.
"Finally.""
"Who is the man in the photograph?""
She laughed.
"You're asking me?""
"You're the one who sent it.""
"Maybe you should ask your mother.""
I closed my eyes.
"Vanessa, stop playing games.""
" laughed.
"You're asking me?""
"You're the one who sent it.""
"Maybe you should ask your mother.""
I closed my eyes.
"Vanessa, stop playing games.""
"Emily met him several times, Marcus. She told him things she never told you.""
"What things?""
Emily met him several times, Marcus. She told him things she never told you.""
"What things?""
"Ask him about the company. Ask him about the money. Ask him why your wife was preparing to leave town.""
I felt my throat"Ask him about the company. Ask him about the money. Ask him why your wife was preparing to leave town.""
I felt my throat tighten.
"Who is he?""
Vanessa lowered her voice.
"His name is Ethan Cole.""
The name meant nothing to me.
tighten.
"Who is he?""
Vanessa lowered her voice.
"His name is Ethan Cole.""
The name meant nothing to me.
"Who is he?""
"Your grandfather's former financial adviser.""
I looked at James.
He immediately began typing the name"Who is he?""
"Your grandfather's former financial adviser.""
I looked at James.
He immediately began typing the name into his laptop.
Vanessa continued.
"Emily trusted him. She thought he could help her recover the money Robert had stolen.""
" into his laptop.
Vanessa continued.
"Emily trusted him. She thought he could help her recover the money Robert had stolen.""
"Did he?""
"Maybe. Maybe he was the reason your grandfather changed his will.""
I gripped the phone.
Did he?""
"Maybe. Maybe he was the reason your grandfather changed his will.""
I gripped the phone.
"What are you trying to tell me?""
"That Emily wasn't simply investigating your uncle. She was planning something"What are you trying to tell me?""
"That Emily wasn't simply investigating your uncle. She was planning something much bigger.""
"Such as?""
Vanessa paused.
Then she said:
"She was planning to take the company away from Robert much bigger.""
"Such as?""
Vanessa paused.
Then she said:
"She was planning to take the company away from Robert and give it to someone else.""
The call ended.
I looked at James.
He was staring at his screen.
"Ethan Cole was and give it to someone else.""
The call ended.
I looked at James.
He was staring at his screen.
"Ethan Cole was listed as a financial adviser to Hayes Industrial Holdings until six years ago.""
"Why did he leave?""
James continued listed as a financial adviser to Hayes Industrial Holdings until six years ago.""
"Why did he leave?""
James continued reading.
"He resigned shortly after William's death.""
"Can you find him?""
"I'm trying.""
Within reading.
"He resigned shortly after William's death.""
"Can you find him?""
"I'm trying.""
Within minutes, James found an old professional listing.
Ethan Cole had retired and moved to a town outside the city.
His office number minutes, James found an old professional listing.
Ethan Cole had retired and moved to a town outside the city.
His office number was disconnected, but a residential address was available through public records.
I looked at the clock.
"Let's was disconnected, but a residential address was available through public records.
I looked at the clock.
"Let's go.""
James shook his head.
"Not before we speak to the hospital and secure the financial evidence.""
go.""
James shook his head.
"Not before we speak to the hospital and secure the financial evidence.""
I stared at him.
"Emily was meeting this man two days before she died. My family hasI stared at him.
"Emily was meeting this man two days before she died. My family has spent four years hiding it. I need to know why.""
James studied my face.
"Then we'll go. But we do spent four years hiding it. I need to know why.""
James studied my face.
"Then we'll go. But we do this carefully.""
We drove for almost an hour.
Ethan's house stood at the end of a quiet residential this carefully.""
We drove for almost an hour.
Ethan's house stood at the end of a quiet residential street. It was a modest brick home with a white fence and an overgrown garden.
I knocked.
A man street. It was a modest brick home with a white fence and an overgrown garden.
I knocked.
A man in his late sixties opened the door.
He had gray hair, tired eyes, and a walking stick in his late sixties opened the door.
He had gray hair, tired eyes, and a walking stick.
"Yes?""
"Ethan Cole?""
He nodded.
"I'm Marcus Hayes.""
His expression changed immediately.
He looked at James, then back at me.
"I wondered when you'd come.""
I stepped inside.
.
"Yes?""
"Ethan Cole?""
He nodded.
"I'm Marcus Hayes.""
His expression changed immediately.
He looked at James, then back at me.
"I wondered when you'd come.""
I stepped inside.
The house smelled of coffee and old books.
On the wall hung a framed photograph of my grandfather standing beside Ethan.
There was another photograph beside it.
Emily.
I stopped.
"WhyThe house smelled of coffee and old books.
On the wall hung a framed photograph of my grandfather standing beside Ethan.
There was another photograph beside it.
Emily.
I stopped.
"Why do you have that?""
Ethan followed my gaze.
"Because she was one of the bravest people I've ever known.""
I turned toward him.
"What was do you have that?""
Ethan followed my gaze.
"Because she was one of the bravest people I've ever known.""
I turned toward him.
"What was your relationship with my wife?""
He sat down.
"She hired me to examine the company's financial records.""
"Why?""
"Because she believed your relationship with my wife?""
He sat down.
"She hired me to examine the company's financial records.""
"Why?""
"Because she believed your uncle was stealing from the business.""
"Was he?""
Ethan nodded.
"Yes your uncle was stealing from the business.""
"Was he?""
Ethan nodded.
"Yes.""
James opened his notebook.
"How much?""
"At least four million dollars over several years. The exact amount remains uncertain.""
James opened his notebook.
"How much?""
"At least four million dollars over several years. The exact amount remains uncertain because some transactions were disguised as legitimate consulting expenses.""
I thought of Horizon Strategic Consulting.
"Was Vanessa involved?""
E because some transactions were disguised as legitimate consulting expenses.""
I thought of Horizon Strategic Consulting.
"Was Vanessa involved?""
Ethan looked at me.
"She helped create the company that received some of the transfers.""
I felt my stomach tightenthan looked at me.
"She helped create the company that received some of the transfers.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"And Daniel?""
"His name appeared on certain authorization documents. Whether he understood what he was signing is another matter.""
I sat opposite him.
"What did Emily discover?""
Ethan reached.
"And Daniel?""
"His name appeared on certain authorization documents. Whether he understood what he was signing is another matter.""
I sat opposite him.
"What did Emily discover?""
Ethan reached for a folder.
"She discovered that Robert had been using the company to create false liabilities. The money was being moved through several entities, for a folder.
"She discovered that Robert had been using the company to create false liabilities. The money was being moved through several entities, then returned as loans.""
"Why?""
"To make the business appear less profitable than it actually then returned as loans.""
"Why?""
"To make the business appear less profitable than it actually was. That allowed Robert to justify buying out certain shareholders at artificially low valuations.""
I stared at him.
"He was trying to take control of the entire company.""
was. That allowed Robert to justify buying out certain shareholders at artificially low valuations.""
I stared at him.
"He was trying to take control of the entire company.""
"Exactly.""
Ethan opened the folder.
"Emily had enough evidence to stop him. But she needed the original share"Exactly.""
Ethan opened the folder.
"Emily had enough evidence to stop him. But she needed the original share certificates and your grandfather's final trust instructions.""
I leaned forward.
"Did she have them?""
"She had copies. Samuel had the originals.""
certificates and your grandfather's final trust instructions.""
I leaned forward.
"Did she have them?""
"She had copies. Samuel had the originals.""
I thought about the wooden box.
"She knew where they were.""
Ethan nodded.
"She was planning to transferI thought about the wooden box.
"She knew where they were.""
Ethan nodded.
"She was planning to transfer the documents to an independent legal trustee.""
"Why didn't she tell me?""
Ethan looked at me sadly.
"She wanted to the documents to an independent legal trustee.""
"Why didn't she tell me?""
Ethan looked at me sadly.
"She wanted to. But she was afraid Robert would use your position in the company against you.""
I stared at the floor.
"Did. But she was afraid Robert would use your position in the company against you.""
I stared at the floor.
"Did she ever say she wanted to leave me?""
Ethan shook his head.
"Never.""
"Vanessa says she was meeting you secretly.""
" she ever say she wanted to leave me?""
Ethan shook his head.
"Never.""
"Vanessa says she was meeting you secretly.""
"She was. Because I was helping her investigate financial misconduct.""
I felt some of the pressure leave my chest.
Then Ethan added:
"HoweverShe was. Because I was helping her investigate financial misconduct.""
I felt some of the pressure leave my chest.
Then Ethan added:
"However, there was another reason she needed my help.""
I looked up.
"What?""
He hesitated.
"Emily had discovered, there was another reason she needed my help.""
I looked up.
"What?""
He hesitated.
"Emily had discovered that the person responsible for approving certain fraudulent transactions wasn't Robert.""
James stopped writing.
"Who was it?""
Ethan looked directly at that the person responsible for approving certain fraudulent transactions wasn't Robert.""
James stopped writing.
"Who was it?""
Ethan looked directly at me.
"Your mother.""
I felt my stomach drop.
"That's impossible.""
"Your mother's signature me.
"Your mother.""
I felt my stomach drop.
"That's impossible.""
"Your mother's signature appeared on several authorization forms.""
"She didn't work for the company.""
"She didn't need to. Robert had listed her as an authorized family representative under appeared on several authorization forms.""
"She didn't work for the company.""
"She didn't need to. Robert had listed her as an authorized family representative under an old financial agreement.""
James leaned forward.
"Did she knowingly approve the transfers?""
Ethan shook his head.
"I don't know. Some an old financial agreement.""
James leaned forward.
"Did she knowingly approve the transfers?""
Ethan shook his head.
"I don't know. Some signatures may have been forged. Others appear genuine.""
I stood.
"You're telling me my mother may have been involved in signatures may have been forged. Others appear genuine.""
I stood.
"You're telling me my mother may have been involved in stealing millions of dollars?""
"I'm telling you Emily believed your mother was being used to conceal stealing millions of dollars?""
"I'm telling you Emily believed your mother was being used to conceal the transactions.""
I stared at him.
"Why?""
"Because Margaret had access to your grandfather's estate records. She could approve the transactions.""
I stared at him.
"Why?""
"Because Margaret had access to your grandfather's estate records. She could approve certain administrative changes without attracting attention.""
My mind raced.
The hidden safe deposit box.
The certain administrative changes without attracting attention.""
My mind raced.
The hidden safe deposit box.
The hospital records.
The missing email.
My mother's repeated warnings.
Everything was connected.
Ethan removed hospital records.
The missing email.
My mother's repeated warnings.
Everything was connected.
Ethan removed another document.
"This is the last report Emily prepared before she died.""
I took it.
On the first page was another document.
"This is the last report Emily prepared before she died.""
I took it.
On the first page was a handwritten note.
*If Robert cannot stop the transfer, he will use Margaret.*
I looked up.
"Did Emily know my mother was in danger a handwritten note.
*If Robert cannot stop the transfer, he will use Margaret.*
I looked up.
"Did Emily know my mother was in danger?""
Ethan nodded.
"She was trying to protect her.""
"Then why did she write that?""
"Because she had discovered?""
Ethan nodded.
"She was trying to protect her.""
"Then why did she write that?""
"Because she had discovered something worse.""
He turned to the final page.
There was a list of names.
Robert something worse.""
He turned to the final page.
There was a list of names.
Robert Hayes.
Vanessa Hayes.
Margaret Hayes.
And beside my mother's name was a handwritten note:
**Original authorization — hospital account Hayes.
Vanessa Hayes.
Margaret Hayes.
And beside my mother's name was a handwritten note:
*Original authorization — hospital account.*
My hands began to shake.
"What's the hospital account?""
Ethan looked at James.
Then he spoke.
"Your grandfather established a medical emergency account for the.**
My hands began to shake.
"What's the hospital account?""
Ethan looked at James.
Then he spoke.
"Your grandfather established a medical emergency account for the family. It was intended to cover hospital expenses and provide emergency support.""
I frowned.
"What does that have to do with Emily?""
"Someone family. It was intended to cover hospital expenses and provide emergency support.""
I frowned.
"What does that have to do with Emily?""
"Someone used that account to authorize payments to a private medical services company shortly before her death.""
I felt cold.
"Which company?""
Ethan used that account to authorize payments to a private medical services company shortly before her death.""
I felt cold.
"Which company?""
Ethan slid a document toward me.
The company name was printed at the top.
**Northbridge slid a document toward me.
The company name was printed at the top.
*Northbridge Medical Services.*
I had never heard of it.
But James had.
His face changed as he read the registered address.
"Marcus, this company shares Medical Services.**
I had never heard of it.
But James had.
His face changed as he read the registered address.
"Marcus, this company shares a director with Horizon Strategic Consulting.""
I looked at him.
"Who?""
James turned the page.
The director's name appeared in bold.
Daniel a director with Horizon Strategic Consulting.""
I looked at him.
"Who?""
James turned the page.
The director's name appeared in bold.
Daniel Hayes.
Before I could speak, Ethan reached into his desk and removed a small envelope.
"Emily asked me to give you this if Hayes.
Before I could speak, Ethan reached into his desk and removed a small envelope.
"Emily asked me to give you this if you ever came looking for the truth.""
I opened it.
Inside was a photograph of Maya as you ever came looking for the truth.""
I opened it.
Inside was a photograph of Maya as a baby, sleeping against Emily's chest.
On the back, Emily had written:
*Marcus, if they a baby, sleeping against Emily's chest.
On the back, Emily had written:
Marcus, if they ever tell you I betrayed you, remember that I was fighting for our daughter.
My eyes burned.
Then Ethan spoke again ever tell you I betrayed you, remember that I was fighting for our daughter.*
My eyes burned.
Then Ethan spoke again.
"There's one more thing you need to know. Emily wasn't the only person who discovered the medical account.""
"Who else?""
"Your.
"There's one more thing you need to know. Emily wasn't the only person who discovered the medical account.""
"Who else?""
"Your grandfather.""
I looked up.
Ethan's voice dropped.
"He confronted Robert about it the day before he died.""
I froze.
"My grandfather died twelve years ago.""
Ethan nodded.
"And the medical grandfather.""
I looked up.
Ethan's voice dropped.
"He confronted Robert about it the day before he died.""
I froze.
"My grandfather died twelve years ago.""
Ethan nodded.
"And the medical account was created shortly before that.""
I stared at him.
"What are you saying?""
Ethan took a breath.
"Marcus, I don't believe Emily account was created shortly before that.""
I stared at him.
"What are you saying?""
Ethan took a breath.
"Marcus, I don't believe Emily's death was the beginning of this family's secret.""
He paused.
"I believe it was the second time someone used's death was the beginning of this family's secret.""
May you like
He paused.
"I believe it was the second time someone used that account to hide what happened to a member of your family.""
