Chapter 17 - Adrian’s Death
The second USB contained hospital records from Canada.
A patient named Andrew Hart had been admitted after a boating accident in 2006.
Same age as Adrian.
Same height.
Same surgical scars.
Caleb stared.
“Adrian survived.”
Evelyn nodded.
“For six months.”
“What happened?”
“Complications.”
“Why hide him?”
“Warren did.”
“Why?”
“Because Adrian had contacted prosecutors.”
Victor nodded.
“He wanted to expose the financial crimes.”
Caleb felt betrayed by another dead man.
“My brother never told me.”
“He was trying to protect you.”
“That seems to be everyone’s excuse.”
Evelyn looked down.
“Sometimes protection becomes cowardice.”
June watched her carefully.
“What did Adrian know about Margaret?”
Evelyn opened an audio file.
Adrian’s weak voice filled the room.
“Grandmother ordered the transfer.”
A man asked, “What transfer?”
“Investor pension funds.”
“How much?”
“Forty-three million.”
“Where?”
“Dane Maritime accounts.”
Victor’s face hardened.
“She framed me.”
Evelyn nodded.
The audio continued.
“She told Dad Victor stole it. Dad believed her. Mom found the original approvals.”
Caleb stared at Margaret’s signature.
Everything led back to her.
“Why?”
Victor answered.
“Control.”
Evelyn shook her head.
“No. Survival.”
They looked at her.
“Margaret’s husband had secretly mortgaged most of the Whitcomb assets before he died. The family fortune was collapsing.”
“So she stole investor money.”
“Yes.”
“And framed Victor.”
“Yes.”
“And my father covered it up.”
“At first without knowing the truth.”
Caleb’s face tightened.
“At first?”
Evelyn looked ashamed.
“Later he knew.”
“He still stayed silent.”
“Yes.”
Caleb stood.
“Then my father wasn’t a victim.”
“No.”
The answer hurt.
“He became part of it.”
June looked toward the final folder.
A video.
Adrian in a hospital bed.
Gaunt.
Weak.
He stared toward the camera.
“If Caleb ever sees this, tell him I’m sorry.”
Caleb froze.
Adrian continued.
“I thought exposing them would protect him.”
He coughed.
“It only made Grandmother look at him next.”
The recording ended abruptly.
Caleb replayed the last sentence.
“Look at me how?”
Evelyn did not answer.
Caleb turned.
“What did Margaret want from me?”
Evelyn whispered:
“She wanted an heir she could control.”
June’s eyes narrowed.
“And when Caleb stopped being controllable?”
May you like
Evelyn looked toward him.
“She prepared Gabriel.”
