Chapter 3 - THE MAN AT THE GATE
Malcolm Shaw reached Blackthorn Manor twelve minutes later.
The gates did not open.
His black sedan stopped beneath the stone archway while Hartwell security vehicles blocked the road behind him.
My father watched the security feed from Nathan’s study.
Malcolm stepped from his car.
He looked furious rather than frightened.
That worried me.
People who believed they had lost everything usually panicked.
Malcolm looked like a man who still possessed something valuable.
Dad stared at the monitor.
“Let him in.”
Adrian turned.
“Arthur.”
“I want to hear him explain it.”
Detective Cole shook her head.
“He should not be allowed near Nathan.”
Dad looked at her.
“Then keep them separated.”
Five minutes later Malcolm entered the library.
I had known him almost my entire life.
He had attended birthdays.
Graduations.
Christmas dinners.
He had stood beside my father at my mother’s funeral.
He had once told me I was like a daughter to him.
Now he looked at me as if we were strangers.
“Evelyn.”
I said nothing.
Dad stepped forward.
“Why?”
Malcolm removed his coat.
“You should ask a better question.”
Dad’s jaw tightened.
“Why did you help Nathan?”
Malcolm glanced at Nathan.
“I helped myself.”
Nathan suddenly stood.
“You told me the transfers were protected.”
Detective Cole ordered him back into his chair.
Malcolm gave him a cold look.
“You were never supposed to create this much attention.”
Nathan pointed at me.
“She tricked us.”
“No.”
Malcolm’s voice remained calm.
“You underestimated her.”
Nathan looked ready to explode.
Malcolm turned toward my father.
“You underestimated her too.”
Dad frowned.
“What does that mean?”
Malcolm looked at me.
“Did you ever wonder why Evelyn married Nathan despite everything you told her?”
My father glanced at me.
I felt my stomach tighten.
Nathan started smiling.
It was faint.
But I saw it.
Malcolm continued.
“You thought this began when Nathan started moving money.”
Dad said nothing.
“It began years earlier.”
I stepped forward.
“What are you talking about?”
Malcolm looked at my pendant inside the evidence pouch.
“You recorded Nathan tonight.”
“Yes.”
“Did you record everything?”
“Yes.”
He slowly nodded.
“Then there is probably something on that device Nathan never intended Celeste to hear.”
Celeste stiffened.
Nathan said sharply, “Malcolm.”
Malcolm ignored him.
He looked directly at me.
“Ask your husband about your mother.”
The entire room went quiet.
My father’s face hardened.
“My wife died from an aneurysm.”
Malcolm looked almost sad.
“I know what the doctors told you.”
Dad stepped forward.
“Choose your next words carefully.”
Malcolm reached inside his jacket.
Detective Cole immediately raised a hand.
“Slowly.”
He removed a small envelope.
Inside was a flash drive.
Malcolm placed it on the table.
“Twenty-two years ago, Hartwell Capital discovered money disappearing from one of its European subsidiaries.”
Dad stared at him.
“I remember.”
“Your wife discovered where it was going.”
My father’s breathing changed.
Malcolm pointed toward Nathan.
“His father was involved.”
Nathan looked away.
Then Malcolm delivered the sentence none of us expected.
May you like
“And so was I.”
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