Charles nodded.
Daniel introduced himself.
The old attorney studied his face.
"You look like your father."
Daniel swallowed.
"Did you know him?"
"Very well."
"Did you prepare the ownership transfer after his death?"
Charles looked down.
"Yes."
"Was it legitimate?"
Charles did not answer immediately.
His silence was enough.
Daniel leaned forward.
"I need the truth."
Charles closed his eyes.
"Your father never agreed to surrender his shares."
Richard's jaw tightened.
"Then why did you prepare the documents?"
Charles looked at him.
"Because I was instructed to."
"By whom?"
"William and Margaret."
Daniel felt his hands tighten.
"Did they forge my father's signature?"
Charles shook his head slowly.
"I cannot say that William knew the full extent of what happened."
Richard stood.
"That is not an answer."
Charles looked exhausted.
"I was given a document bearing Robert's signature. I believed it was authentic at first. Later, I discovered irregularities."
"Why didn't you report it?"
Charles looked toward the window.
"Because I was afraid."
"Of Margaret?"
"Of what she was capable of."
The room became silent.
Charles continued.
"She came to my office after Robert died. She told me that Daniel was too young to inherit anything and that the company needed stability. She said William would protect the boy."
Daniel shook his head.
"She told me my father had left debts."
Charles lowered his eyes.
"I know."
"Why?"
"Because I helped create the documents that made that lie possible."
Daniel stood.
"Then you helped steal my inheritance."
Charles nodded.
"Yes."
He did not make excuses.
He did not deny it.
For the first time, someone had admitted what had happened.
Charles opened a drawer and removed a small envelope.
"I have kept this for thirty years."
Richard looked at it.
"What is it?"
"The original correspondence between Robert and William."
Daniel reached for it.
Charles stopped him.
"Before you read it, there is something else you need to know."
He looked directly at Emily.
"Your father visited me shortly before he died."
Emily froze.
"What?"
"He knew about the documents. He had discovered that the ownership transfer was fraudulent."
"Did he tell you anything else?"
Charles nodded.
"He told me that Margaret had threatened him."
Emily's eyes filled with tears.
"Did he say why?"
"Because he had found something more dangerous than the missing shares."
Charles paused.
"Your father had discovered that money had been transferred out of the company through several false investment accounts."
Richard frowned.
"What accounts?"
"Accounts controlled by a private company."
Daniel looked at him.
"Whose company?"
Charles answered quietly.
"Margaret's."
CHAPTER 12 β THE PRICE OF SILENCE
The documents Charles provided changed everything.
Elizabeth Morgan spent several days examining them.
She discovered that the company had transferred millions of dollars into several entities over a period of ten years.
Some payments were described as consulting fees.
Others were listed as property acquisitions.
But the companies receiving the money had no meaningful business operations.
Their registered addresses led to empty offices.
Their directors were relatives and former employees of Margaret Whitmore.
The transactions suggested a deliberate effort to move company assets beyond the reach of other shareholders.
Daniel was stunned.
"How much money?"
Elizabeth reviewed the spreadsheet.
"Based on the records we currently have, approximately twenty-four million dollars."
Richard closed his eyes.
"That is only what we can identify."
Emily looked at the documents.
"So the missing inheritance wasn't the only thing she took."
Elizabeth nodded.
"Correct. If the records are authentic, this could involve corporate fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, and fraudulent asset transfers."
Daniel stood.
"I want to confront her."
Elizabeth immediately shook her head.
"Not yet."
"She threatened my family."
"Which is precisely why you should let us handle this properly."
Daniel looked frustrated.
"She thinks she can do whatever she wants."
Elizabeth answered calmly.
"Then we need to show her that she cannot."
Meanwhile, Margaret was becoming increasingly nervous.
She had received a letter from the company auditor requesting clarification about several historical transactions.
She knew what it meant.
Someone had begun examining the financial records.
She called her former attorney.
"Charles has spoken."
The attorney hesitated.
"How do you know?"
"He has always been weak."
"Margaret, we need to discuss your position."
"There is nothing to discuss."
"Some of the transactions may be difficult to explain."
She slammed her hand against the desk.