Chapter 5 - BROTHERS
Nathan entered the building smiling.
He was younger than Adrian by four years.
Usually he carried himself with an easy charm that made people trust him quickly.
Tonight, there was nothing charming about him.
“Family reunion?”
Adrian moved between Nathan and Claire.
“You’re an idiot.”
Nathan laughed.
“You warned me.”
“I told you to leave the property.”
“You should have been more specific.”
Claire looked at the blue folder.
“Give me my documents.”
Nathan held it against his chest.
“These?”
“Yes.”
“I think these are worth considerably more than you realize.”
“They belong to me.”
“So did the condo.”
Nathan smiled.
“That never stopped my father.”
Adrian stepped forward.
“Nathan, give her the folder.”
“You’re suddenly protecting her?”
Nathan looked toward Claire’s bandaged temple.
“That’s interesting timing.”
Adrian’s fists tightened.
Claire quietly touched the recording device beneath her jacket.
Everything was being captured.
Nathan walked toward an old desk.
He dropped the folder onto it.
“Your family trust is structured beautifully, Claire.”
“You read it?”
“Every page.”
“You committed burglary.”
“So arrest me.”
Nathan spread his hands.
“I’m not the person you should be worried about.”
“Who is?”
“Our mother.”
Claire stared.
Even Adrian looked surprised.
Nathan laughed.
“You still don’t know.”
“Know what?” Adrian demanded.
“The condo was her idea.”
Adrian shook his head.
“No.”
“She found out Claire owned it before the wedding.”
“That’s a lie.”
“She told Dad Claire was too independent.”
“She told him the marriage would be useless unless we tied her assets to the family.”
Adrian stared at his brother.
Nathan continued.
“Dad created the documents.”
“Mom created the plan.”
“And you, brother, did exactly what both of them expected.”
Adrian lunged.
Claire stepped back as the brothers collided with the desk.
The blue folder fell to the floor.
Before either man could reach it, Claire grabbed it.
Nathan shoved Adrian away.
“Ask him about the first loan.”
Claire froze.
Adrian stopped moving.
“What first loan?” she asked.
Nathan smiled.
“Tell her.”
Adrian said nothing.
Nathan looked at Claire.
“Three years ago, someone borrowed eight hundred thousand dollars using an investment account as collateral.”
Claire’s heartbeat accelerated.
“What account?”
“One registered in your name.”
Claire looked at Adrian.
He could not meet her eyes.
“No.”
Nathan nodded.
“Yes.”
“That’s impossible.”
“Not if your husband had access to your tax files, Social Security number, signature samples, and financial statements.”
Claire felt nauseated.
“What happened to the money?”
Nathan answered.
“It went to Dad.”
Claire stared at Adrian.
“You stole eight hundred thousand dollars from me?”
“I planned to put it back.”
Nathan laughed.
“That is every thief’s favorite sentence.”
Adrian turned toward him.
“Shut up.”
Nathan’s smile faded.
“Why?”
“Because Mom might hear us?”
He pointed toward Claire’s folder.
“There’s something else in there.”
Claire opened it.
Several pages were missing.
“What did you take?”
Nathan pulled a folded document from inside his coat.
“Insurance records.”
Adrian went still.
Claire noticed.
“What insurance records?”
Nathan looked at his brother.
“You tell her.”
Adrian’s eyes filled with panic.
Nathan handed Claire the document.
It was a life insurance policy.
Claire was the insured person.
Adrian was the primary beneficiary.
The policy amount was ten million dollars.
Claire stared at the effective date.
Eight months earlier.
She had never applied for it.
Never signed it.
Never even heard of it.
Her hands went cold.
Nathan stepped closer.
“Your condo wasn’t their final solution.”
Claire looked up.
Nathan’s voice became quiet.
“If they couldn’t get your money while you were alive, they had another plan.”
Outside, police vehicles suddenly flooded the marina with light.
Adrian stared at the policy.
Then he whispered something Claire would never forget.
May you like
“I told her I wouldn’t do that.”
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