Chapter 11 - Twelve Hours.
By 12:30 a.m., the scandal at the christening had become a race against a transaction no one could yet see.
Jennifer refused to let Richard call the police with only half the account information.
Not because Daniel deserved protection.
Because a rushed accusation could trigger exactly what Thomas's note warned about.
They returned to the hotel boardroom instead of the ballroom.
“Where does the noon transfer go?”
“So Thomas finally appeared.”
“Yes.”
“Why would I give it?”
“Because if the money moves, every person at this table becomes part of the investigation, including Claire and Noah.”
“Claire did not know about North Birch.”
“I know.”
“Then help keep her out of the wreckage you created.”
“How much money moves at noon?”
“Based on the ledger, potentially two point four million.”
Margaret gripped the edge of her chair.
Daniel stared at Owen.
“You shouldn't be here.”
“Neither should you.”
“What cancels the transfer?”
“A token.”
“What token?”
“A code from a device.”
“Where is the device?”
“That depends on whether my room has been searched.”
“It has.”
“Then you probably scared the person holding it.”
“Enough.”
“The device isn't in room 1408.”
“Who has it?” Jennifer asked.
Daniel looked at Margaret.
“I don't.”
“Not Mom.”
Jennifer realized his gaze had passed beyond Margaret toward the dark glass wall reflecting the room.
“Thomas?”
Thomas had appeared at the hotel because he wanted control of the transfer.
Owen asked, “What account receives the money?”
“You taught me not to put all exits in one place.”
“That is not an answer.”
“It is the only one you're getting until I have terms.”
“You are bargaining with your own family.”
“You were ready to turn me over to police ten minutes ago.”
“Yes.”
“And now you need me.”
“Yes.”
“That does not make you innocent.”
“What terms?”
“Claire and Noah are protected from civil claims arising from North Birch.”
“Reasonable.”
Richard looked at her but did not object.
“My mother is not charged for the signature card.”
Margaret whispered, “Daniel, stop trying to decide for me.”
“If I did something wrong, I will answer for it.”
Jennifer said, “You cannot negotiate legal immunity at this table.”
“Then call someone who can.”
“One more question first.”
“Why did you use my company?”
For the first time, he hesitated for emotional rather than tactical reasons.
“Because it was clean.”
“My reputation.”
“Your accounts.”
“Your tax history.”
“You had no unusual debt.”
“Transfers through you looked ordinary.”
Jennifer stared at the man she had married.
“So when you told me you admired what I built, you were evaluating it.”
“Not at first.”
“When did it change?”
“When your company nearly failed.”
“You saw the reserve account.”
“I saw an opportunity to fix several problems at once.”
Richard called the family's outside counsel and a forensic banking specialist.
By 2:00 a.m., they had emergency plans in place to notify institutions the moment they identified the destination accounts.
At 2:17, Claire sent another message.
“Don't go.”
“You are worried about me now?”
“No.”
“I am worried about what Thomas thinks you have.”
“The folder?”
“The thing Caroline left.”
“The safe-deposit key.”
“You opened the gray envelope.”
“Yes.”
“Then you missed the false seam.”
“Caroline hid things inside things.”
“You taught me that.”
Richard closed his eyes.
Jennifer reopened the envelope on the boardroom table.
Inside the thick glued edge, she found a narrow brass key.
Stamped on it were the same numbers from Caroline's calendar.
May you like
The bank deposit box number.
Daniel whispered, “Thomas has spent fifteen years looking for that.”
