Chapter 2 - MY FATHER'S BEST FRIEND
My father crossed the room without looking at Nathan.
He came directly to me.
For several seconds he said nothing.
His eyes moved across the room, then toward the pendant, then back to my face.
“Do you have it?”
“All of it.”
I removed the necklace.
Nathan suddenly moved.
“Give me that.”
Two men entered behind my father.
Nathan stopped immediately.
They were not bodyguards.
One was Adrian Wells, Hartwell Capital’s chief attorney.
The other was Detective Rebecca Cole, who had been quietly reviewing the financial records I had collected for almost six weeks.
Nathan recognized her.
His shoulders tightened.
Detective Cole held up her identification.
“Nathan Ashford, do not approach Mrs. Ashford.”
Nathan laughed nervously.
“This is a family misunderstanding.”
“No.”
I handed the pendant to Adrian.
“It isn’t.”
Celeste remained near the window.
She watched everyone carefully.
My father finally looked at Nathan.
“You involved Malcolm Shaw.”
Nathan said nothing.
Dad stepped closer.
“Answer me.”
Nathan smiled.
It was the same smile he used whenever he believed another person was losing control.
“I don’t know what Celeste is talking about.”
Celeste laughed.
Nathan turned toward her.
“Be quiet.”
She folded her arms.
“Why?”
His expression sharpened.
“Because you don’t understand what is happening.”
“Oh, I understand perfectly.”
Celeste looked at Detective Cole.
“He promised me we would be in Switzerland by tomorrow.”
Nathan stared at her.
“Celeste.”
She kept talking.
“He said once Evelyn’s shares transferred, the Hartwell accounts would become available through the Ashford holding companies.”
My father slowly sat down.
I had never seen him look old before.
In that moment, he did.
“Malcolm had access to those transfer procedures.”
Adrian nodded.
“He still does.”
Dad pulled out his phone.
He called Malcolm.
No answer.
He called again.
Nothing.
Adrian stepped into the hallway and began issuing instructions.
“Freeze Malcolm Shaw’s credentials immediately.”
Nathan laughed again.
“You people really believe Celeste?”
I looked at him.
“I don’t have to believe her.”
I pointed toward the pendant.
“You already explained the plan yourself.”
Nathan’s smile disappeared.
Detective Cole placed the pendant inside an evidence pouch.
“We will need the original recording.”
“There are three copies.”
Nathan looked at me sharply.
“One is with my attorney.”
I continued.
“One is encrypted online.”
I paused.
“And one was automatically sent to my father tonight.”
My father looked surprised.
I had not told him about that part.
Nathan slowly lowered himself into a chair.
Celeste stared at me.
“You expected this night.”
“I expected Nathan eventually to believe he was completely safe.”
Celeste almost smiled.
“That was his biggest weakness.”
Nathan slammed his fist against the table.
“Stop talking.”
Nobody reacted.
Detective Cole’s phone buzzed.
She read the message.
Then she looked at my father.
“Malcolm Shaw left Hartwell headquarters eleven minutes ago.”
Dad stood.
“Where is he going?”
Cole turned the phone toward us.
A traffic camera had captured Malcolm’s car.
He was heading north.
May you like
Toward Blackthorn Manor.
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