Chapter 39 - Richard’s Dinner Table
Richard invited Nora to dinner.
Camille told her not to go.
Federal investigators advised against it.
Nora accepted.
Richard lived in a mansion overlooking the city, twice the size of Briarwood and almost entirely empty.
A table for fourteen had been set, though only Nora, Richard and Beatrice attended.
Richard poured wine for himself.
Nora asked for water.
“You look less frightened than Adrian did,” he said.
“You met with him before he died.”
“He came here asking me to confess.”
“What did you tell him?”
“That truth is valuable only when powerful people agree to hear it.”
Richard served dinner as though discussing business.
He admitted knowing about the cooperative trust but claimed it had expired. Nora placed a copy on the table.
His hand stopped beside his glass.
“You found it.”
“Yes.”
“Then you know the five families own Meridian Crown only if they activate the trust through a unanimous vote.”
Nora had read the clause.
The descendants of all five founders had to approve the transfer.
Margaret had no living children.
Rose’s only son had disappeared from public records.
Evelyn’s daughter denied knowing anything about the cooperative.
Helen’s heir was Gabriel.
Lydia’s legal heir was officially Gabriel as well, because she had raised him under her son’s identity.
The family lines had become legally tangled.
Richard smiled.
“You have paper. I have time.”
Nora asked what he wanted.
“Briarwood.”
“Why?”
“Because Charles hid more than the trust there.”
Richard claimed Adrian had found evidence concerning his father’s death.
Charles had not died naturally.
He had been preparing to expose Meridian Crown when someone tampered with his medication.
Richard blamed Beatrice.
Beatrice stood abruptly.
“You told me he died from heart failure.”
“He did. The question is why.”
Nora watched them carefully.
Richard had invited Beatrice to create suspicion.
He wanted Nora to believe she had allied herself with a killer.
Then a server entered and placed a covered dish in front of Nora.
Beneath the silver lid was Elsie’s wooden rabbit.
Nora’s chair struck the floor as she stood.
“Where is my daughter?”
Richard remained calm.
“She is safe at Briarwood.”
Nora called security.
Elsie answered immediately. She was unharmed, and her rabbit remained beside her.
The object on Richard’s table was a perfect copy.
“I can reproduce anything,” Richard said. “A toy. A deed. A signature. A medical record.”
Nora picked up the false rabbit.
“You just admitted your method.”
“Not where anyone can prove it.”
May you like
Nora touched the small recording device hidden inside her sleeve.
“Are you sure?”
