Chapter 9 - Victor Dane
The next clue came from June’s USB.
Folder Five contained an old ledger from Whitcomb Holdings.
Payments to a company called Harbor Mutual Consulting continued for eleven years after Victor Dane supposedly vanished.
Caleb recognized the authorization signature.
His father’s.
“He paid Victor.”
June nodded.
“Or someone using Victor’s company.”
Meredith looked at the ledger.
“He was alive.”
Caleb turned.
“You thought he was dead?”
“I thought Warren had him killed.”
“Why?”
“Because Adrian was Victor’s son.”
June crossed her arms.
“That alone doesn’t explain murder.”
Meredith looked at her.
“No. But the company did.”
They waited.
Meredith continued.
“Victor discovered Warren was moving investor money through shell companies.”
Caleb’s expression hardened.
“My father built Whitcomb Holdings legally.”
“That’s what he taught you.”
Caleb hated how often that sentence seemed necessary now.
“What did my mother know?”
“Everything.”
June opened another file.
A handwritten letter appeared.
Evelyn’s handwriting.
Caleb recognized it instantly.
Warren, if you do not tell Caleb what you did, I will.
Caleb’s throat tightened.
Below it:
And Adrian deserves to know who his father is.
Caleb read it twice.
Then June noticed the back of the scanned page.
A faint sentence had bled through.
She enhanced it.
The line became visible.
Lacey saw Victor leave through the east door.
June leaned toward the screen.
“My sister.”
Meredith nodded.
“She was carrying towels to the lake.”
“What did she see?”
“I don’t know exactly.”
“You were her friend.”
“We weren’t close.”
June slammed her palm against the desk.
“You lied about knowing her. Why should I believe anything now?”
Meredith whispered, “Because she was terrified of one person.”
“Who?”
“Warren?”
“No.”
“Victor?”
“No.”
Caleb felt the answer before Meredith said it.
“Who?”
Meredith looked at him.
“Your grandmother.”
Caleb stepped back.
“Margaret?”
Margaret Whitcomb was ninety-one.
She lived in a private residence in Connecticut.
Caleb had visited her two weeks earlier.
Sharp.
Elegant.
Still controlling.
The family matriarch.
Meredith continued.
“Warren was afraid of her too.”
Caleb almost laughed.
“My father controlled everyone.”
“Except Margaret.”
June stared at the letter.
“Why would Lacey fear her?”
“Because Margaret was at the lake that night.”
Silence.
Then Caleb’s phone vibrated.
Unknown number.
A video call.
He answered.
The screen showed Elara sleeping.
Alive.
A distorted voice spoke.
“Bring Margaret Whitcomb to the lake.”
Caleb’s jaw tightened.
“Why?”
May you like
The voice answered:
“Because she’s the only one left who knows where Victor Dane is buried.”
