Chapter 7 - The Missing Lawyer
David’s apartment was empty.
His passport remained registered in the United States.
His car was found outside Union Station.
Security footage showed him entering the station.
Nothing showed him leaving.
Richard knew David well enough to understand one thing.
He would never abandon money.
If he had disappeared, he had either been frightened or silenced.
Police searched his office.
Behind a locked cabinet they found twelve years of confidential Hale family records.
Caroline’s medical information.
Maya’s trust documents.
Edmund Hale’s business ledgers.
And financial statements connected to Harrison Langley.
Rachel Kim studied the files.
“David wasn’t just Victoria’s attorney.”
“He was managing the entire structure.”
Richard stared at a flowchart.
Shell companies transferred money between Hale family accounts and companies controlled by Martin.
“Your father was involved,” Rachel said.
Richard hated hearing it.
But the evidence was becoming impossible to deny.
Edmund had helped Victoria and Martin conceal millions stolen from Harrison Langley.
Then something changed.
Edmund apparently attempted to withdraw from the arrangement.
Two months later, he died in a car crash.
Caroline discovered the financial connection.
Three years later, she died.
Now Victoria had attempted to harm Maya.
The pattern was no longer subtle.
Everyone who threatened the scheme became a target.
Richard called Grace.
“You and Maya are leaving the estate.”
“Where?”
“A place nobody knows about.”
Richard owned a farmhouse in Virginia through an anonymous corporate entity.
Only two people knew.
Richard and Caroline.
Grace packed immediately.
That night, Maya asked Richard whether he was coming.
“Tomorrow.”
“You promise?”
“I promise.”
But Richard never arrived the next morning.
At 6:20 a.m., police vehicles surrounded his home.
Detective Grant entered carrying a warrant.
Richard stared at him.
“What happened?”
Grant’s expression was grim.
“Victoria Langley was attacked last night.”
Richard almost laughed from disbelief.
“And you think I did it?”
“She was found unconscious in her home.”
“Her attorneys say she had recently told them you threatened her.”
Richard remembered their staircase confrontation.
Get out before the police put you in handcuffs.
“You know she planned this.”
“I know what evidence suggests.”
Grant lowered his voice.
“But I also have to follow evidence when it points toward you.”
“What evidence?”
“Your car was photographed near her house.”
“My car was here.”
“One of your company vehicles.”
Richard felt cold.
“Who had access?”
“Several executives.”
“And?”
Grant looked at him.
“We found your fingerprints inside Victoria’s home.”
Richard stared.
“I haven’t been there in months.”
“Were you there previously?”
“Yes.”
“Then fingerprints alone prove nothing.”
“No.”
Grant paused.
“But blood does.”
Richard’s stomach tightened.
“Whose blood?”
“Yours.”
Richard said nothing.
Grant continued.
“A small amount was found on broken glass in her kitchen.”
Richard remembered cutting his hand at Victoria’s house almost six months earlier while opening a wine bottle.
She had cleaned the counter herself.
She had saved his blood.
The realization horrified him.
“This was prepared months ago.”
Grant nodded slightly.
“That is what I’m starting to believe.”
Richard was not arrested.
But news leaked within hours.
Billionaire Executive Questioned After Fiancée Found Unconscious.
By noon, Hale Industries stock had fallen twelve percent.
By evening, Victoria regained consciousness.
She gave one statement to police.
“Richard tried to kill me.”
Richard watched the report from a private office.
Then his phone rang.
Unknown number.
He answered.
Silence.
Then David Mercer whispered.
“Richard?”
Richard stood.
“Where are you?”
“I can’t tell you.”
“Did Victoria attack herself?”
“No.”
“Then who did?”
David’s breathing became uneven.
“You still don’t understand.”
“Victoria isn’t running this.”
Richard gripped the phone.
“Who is?”
David whispered two words.
“Martin Cross.”
Then Richard heard a door open on David’s end.
David gasped.
May you like
The line went dead.
---
