Patricia reached into a drawer and removed an old appointment card.
"I kept this because your father asked me to."
Daniel took it.
On the back was a handwritten note.
IF ANYTHING HAPPENS TO ME, PLEASE CONTACT THOMAS CARTER.
Emily's eyes filled with tears.
Her father had been trying to protect Robert.
And Robert had been trying to protect Daniel.
Their families had been connected by something far stronger than money.
CHAPTER 18 β MARGARET'S COUNTERMOVE
Margaret learned about the safety deposit box through an unexpected source.
Michael Ross called her one evening.
"They found the recordings."
She stood beside her desk.
"What recordings?"
"The ones William kept."
Margaret closed her eyes.
"How do you know?"
"Someone from the bank contacted an investigator. The documents are being examined."
She slammed her phone onto the desk.
For several minutes, she paced the room.
Then she called her personal attorney.
"We need to act immediately."
The attorney sounded concerned.
"Margaret, I strongly advise against taking any further action."
"I am not asking for advice."
"Some of the records are now in the possession of investigators. You need to prepare for legal scrutiny."
She stared at the window.
"I will not allow Daniel to take control of the company."
"That may no longer be your decision."
Margaret's voice became icy.
"Everything is my decision."
She ended the call.
Then she opened a drawer and removed a second telephone.
It was an old device she had kept for emergencies.
She dialed a number.
When someone answered, she said:
"I need the original file destroyed."
The person on the other end asked:
"Which one?"
"All of them."
A pause followed.
"Margaret, there are too many records. We cannot guarantee that."
"Then do what you can."
She ended the call.
But this time, her voice had been recorded.
The person she had called was not an accomplice.
It was an investigator working with Elizabeth Morgan.
Margaret had unknowingly confirmed that she knew about the missing documents.
And the investigation was now moving much faster.
CHAPTER 19 β THE FAMILY MEETING
A week later, Daniel received a message from his mother.
She wanted to meet.
The message contained only one sentence.
WE NEED TO TALK BEFORE THIS GOES TOO FAR.
Daniel showed it to Emily.
"What do you think?"
Emily looked at the screen.
"I think she knows the investigation is serious."
"Should I go?"
"Only if your lawyer agrees."
Elizabeth advised him to meet Margaret in a public location and not discuss legal matters without representation.
The meeting was arranged at a quiet restaurant.
Daniel arrived with Richard.
Margaret was already seated.
She looked older than she had a week earlier.
Her expression remained composed, but her hands were restless.
"Daniel."
"Mother."
Richard sat down without greeting her.
Margaret looked at him.
"You always did enjoy creating problems."
Richard ignored the comment.
Daniel placed a folder on the table.
"I want to understand what happened."
Margaret glanced at the folder.
"What is that?"
"The original trust agreement. The financial records. The recordings."
She looked away.
"Those documents are not what you think."
"Then explain them."
Margaret took a breath.
"Your father was not an easy man to work with."
Daniel stared at her.
"That doesn't answer my question."
"He made decisions that threatened the company."
"Did he own fifty percent?"
Margaret remained silent.
"Did he leave those shares to me?"
She looked at him.
"Yes."
Daniel felt his chest tighten.
"Then why did you take them?"
Margaret's eyes filled with anger.
"I did what I believed was necessary."
"Necessary for whom?"
"For the company!"
"No. For you."
Margaret leaned forward.
"You have no idea how difficult it was to keep everything together after Robert died."
Richard finally spoke.
"You didn't keep anything together. You took control."
Margaret turned toward him.
"You left. You abandoned the family."
"I left because I refused to participate in your lies."
She laughed bitterly.
"Your moral superiority is exhausting."
Daniel interrupted.
"Did you threaten Thomas Carter?"
Margaret froze.
"Who?"
"My wife's father."
She stared at him.
"That man was interfering in business matters."
"He was protecting my inheritance."
"He had no right."
Daniel leaned forward.
"He had every right. My father trusted him."
Margaret looked toward the window.
Then she said:
"Your father was a weak man."