Victoria entered the library at eleven o'clock.
She wore a cream-colored jacket and carried a designer handbag. Her hair was perfectly styled, and her expression suggested that the morning had been entirely ordinary.
"Good morning, Dad."
Richard did not immediately respond.
Victoria glanced at the monitor.
"Are you watching the cameras again?"
"Something like that."
She poured herself a glass of water.
"I told you those cameras would make you paranoid."
Richard looked at her.
"Where were you this morning?"
Victoria paused.
"I had a meeting."
"With whom?"
"A business associate."
"What business?"
She sighed.
"Why are you interrogating me?"
"I'm asking a question."
"And I'm telling you I had a meeting."
Richard studied her face.
He had learned to recognize the little movements that revealed when someone was uncomfortable. Victoria had inherited her mother's expressive eyes, and she had never been particularly good at hiding her emotions from him.
Today, she avoided his gaze.
"Did your meeting involve Daniel Brooks?" he asked.
The glass slipped slightly in her hand.
Only for a moment.
Then she placed it on the counter.
"Daniel? I haven't spoken to him in years."
Richard felt something break inside him.
She had not even asked how he knew the name.
Instead, she had denied everything immediately.
"I see."
Victoria narrowed her eyes.
"What does that mean?"
"Nothing."
"You're acting strangely."
Richard turned off the monitor.
"Perhaps I'm getting old."
She looked relieved.
"You're not old, Dad. You're just spending too much time alone."
She approached him and touched his shoulder.
"You should consider taking a vacation. Maybe sell some of the company shares and enjoy your life."
Richard looked at her hand.
"Sell my shares?"
"Why not? You've worked long enough."
"And what would happen to the company?"
Victoria smiled.
"We could manage it."
"We?"
"Daniel and I have discussed several possibilities."
The room fell silent.
Victoria realized her mistake.
Richard slowly turned toward her.
"You said you hadn't spoken to him in years."
She stepped back.
"I meant we hadn't spoken recently."
"Then how have you discussed the company?"
Victoria's expression hardened.
"You're twisting my words."
"No. I'm trying to understand them."
She picked up her handbag.
"I have things to do."
"Victoria."
She stopped at the doorway.
"Yes?"
"Do you remember your mother's last birthday?"
Victoria looked confused.
"What?"
"She asked you to have dinner with us. You said you were busy. You promised to come the following evening."
Victoria said nothing.
"She died three days later. You never came."
"Why are you bringing that up?"
"Because your mother spent her final months worrying about you."
Victoria's eyes flashed with anger.
"You don't get to lecture me about family, Dad. You were never there."
Richard absorbed the words without responding.
She was right about some things.
He had missed important moments. He had chosen business over family too often.
But that did not explain the missing documents.
It did not justify lying.
And it certainly did not explain why she was meeting a former financial adviser who had left the company under suspicious circumstances.
Victoria walked out.
Richard remained in the library long after she had gone.
He wanted to believe there was an innocent explanation.
He wanted to believe his daughter had made a mistake and could still be brought back from whatever path she had chosen.
But he had learned something during his years in business.
When several warning signs appeared at once, ignoring them did not make them disappear.
It only gave the problem more time to grow.
That afternoon, Richard contacted his attorney, Margaret Ellis.
He told her about the recording.
She listened carefully, asked several questions, and requested copies of the relevant footage.
"Richard," she said finally, "do not confront either of them until we understand what those documents contain."
"Do you think they're stealing from me?"
"I think we need evidence before making that accusation."
"And if they are?"
"Then we follow the evidence wherever it leads."
Richard looked at the darkened monitor.
For the first time, he understood that he might be forced to choose between protecting his daughter and protecting the truth.
He hoped he would not have to choose.
But deep down, he already knew the decision might be unavoidable.
PART 3: THE ENVELOPE
Two days later, Margaret called.
She had examined the documents visible in the recording and compared them with the company's current records.
The results were disturbing.
Someone had been attempting to transfer a significant portion of Richard's controlling shares into a private investment company registered under an unfamiliar name.
The transaction had not been completed, but several preliminary documents had already been prepared.
One signature appeared to belong to Richard.
He had never signed it.
Margaret explained that the documents might have been used to convince investors that the transfer was legitimate.