Chapter 10 - THE FRAME
Within an hour, the story reached the news.
SAMUEL PRICE MISSING.
BLOOD FOUND IN VEHICLE.
BENNETT HEIR NAMED IN NOTE.
Mark watched the headline from Daniel's office.
"This is insane."
Daniel closed the blinds.
"Don't talk to reporters."
"I didn't touch Samuel."
"I know."
"Then why are police coming here?"
"Because they have to investigate."
Detective Chen arrived twenty minutes later.
She looked exhausted.
"The blood belongs to Samuel."
"How much?"
"Enough to look serious."
Mark stared at her.
"Do you think he's dead?"
"No."
The answer surprised him.
"Why?"
"Because people who are dying rarely stage dramatic evidence pointing at someone else."
Daniel almost smiled.
Chen continued.
"There's more."
A search of Samuel's car revealed a Bennett Holdings executive access card registered to Mark.
Mark looked at Daniel.
"My card is in my wallet."
He checked.
It was gone.
His mind raced backward.
Samuel's office.
The cabin.
The mansion.
Someone had been close enough to take it.
Chen held up a photograph.
"We also found a small amount of blood on a shirt in the trunk."
The shirt belonged to Mark.
He recognized it instantly.
It had disappeared from his gym locker two weeks earlier.
Samuel had been preparing this frame before the cabin fire.
"This was planned."
"Yes."
"Then why am I being treated like a suspect?"
"Because planned evidence still has to be disproved."
Mark stood.
Chen lifted a hand.
"Sit."
He did.
"Where were you between midnight and four in the morning two nights ago?"
"At Caroline's house."
"Who can confirm it?"
"Caroline."
"Sophie."
"Two security officers."
Chen nodded.
"We already confirmed that."
Mark exhaled.
"Then Samuel's frame falls apart."
"Probably."
"Probably?"
Chen placed another photograph on the desk.
It showed Mark's SUV entering an industrial road at 2:13 in the morning.
The license plate was clearly visible.
Mark stared.
"My car never left Caroline's driveway."
"We checked the security footage."
"Then what is that?"
"A duplicate plate."
Mark understood.
Samuel did not need to prove Mark committed a crime.
He needed confusion.
Delay.
Public suspicion.
Enough uncertainty to weaken Mark before the probate hearing.
Daniel leaned forward.
"Samuel wants the estate tied up."
Chen nodded.
"And he wants law enforcement chasing Mark instead of him."
Mark looked toward the photograph.
"He's not running."
"No."
Chen's expression darkened.
"He's still operating."
The proof came that afternoon.
Bennett Holdings received an emergency shareholder petition.
Someone had filed documents claiming Mark was under investigation for attempted murder and therefore temporarily unfit to act as trustee.
The petition requested appointment of an interim custodian.
The proposed custodian was Victoria Bennett.
Mark stared at the filing.
"She can't be serious."
Daniel looked angrier than Mark had ever seen him.
"This was prepared before Samuel disappeared."
"Meaning?"
"Samuel and Victoria planned this together."
Victoria's cooperation with prosecutors had been another move.
She gave them information Samuel had already abandoned.
She appeared helpful.
Then Samuel staged his disappearance.
If Mark became legally compromised, Victoria hoped to step into control before the court understood what had happened.
Mark called Victoria.
She answered on the second ring.
"Hello, little brother."
"You filed to control Sophie's trust."
"I'm protecting the company."
"From me?"
"From scandal."
"You created the scandal."
Victoria laughed softly.
"Can you prove that?"
Mark closed his eyes.
"You never change."
"Neither do you."
She paused.
"Father always chose you."
"This isn't about Dad choosing me."
"It's always been about that."
"No."
Mark's voice became quiet.
"This is about you believing every person you love owes you something."
Victoria stopped laughing.
Mark continued.
"Dad gave you chances."
"You stole from him."
"He protected you."
"You forged his name."
"He left you enough money to live comfortably for the rest of your life."
"You tried to steal Sophie's future because comfortable wasn't enough."
Victoria's voice hardened.
"You have no idea what I deserved."
"No."
Mark looked through the glass wall toward Daniel.
"But I know what Sophie deserves."
He ended the call.
Across town, Victoria lowered her phone.
For a moment she looked shaken.
Then the office door behind her opened.
A man stepped inside.
Victoria turned.
Her face went pale.
Samuel Price smiled.
May you like
"You shouldn't have answered his call."
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