Chapter 3 - The Trustee Who Knew Daniel Was Afraid
Edmund Vale did not get far.
Moretti security found his car three blocks away.
Empty.
The rear door was open.
One shoe remained inside.
No blood.
No driver.
Emma looked at the photograph Marco showed them.
“That does not look like an escape.”
Luca agreed.
“No.”
Gabriel did not.
“He planned this.”
Luca looked at him.
“You want that to be true.”
Gabriel’s jaw tightened.
Emma understood why.
If Vale had fled, he was guilty.
If someone had taken him, the conspiracy was larger.
Marco recovered Vale’s briefcase from the trunk.
Inside:
A paper ledger.
Two old keys.
One sealed envelope.
The envelope carried Emma’s name.
Not printed.
Handwritten.
Daniel Navarro’s handwriting.
Emma knew it immediately.
She sat down.
Gabriel whispered, “That’s Uncle Daniel’s.”
“Yes.”
Her fingers shook when she opened it.
The note was short.
EMMA—
IF VALE GIVES YOU THIS BEFORE YOUR THIRTIETH BIRTHDAY, THEN SOMEBODY HAS TRIED TO ERASE THE HOLDING COMPANY.
DO NOT SIGN ANYTHING GABRIEL BRINGS YOU UNTIL YOU KNOW WHO IS USING HIS NAME.
Emma stopped.
Gabriel read over her shoulder.
His face emptied.
“He knew.”
Luca leaned closer.
“Keep reading.”
The second paragraph was worse.
THE SALAZARS WILL TRY TO MAKE THE NAVARROS ACCUSE EACH OTHER. THEY CANNOT TAKE THE COMPANY WHILE THE FAMILY VOTES TOGETHER.
Emma looked at Gabriel.
Neither spoke.
The last line:
VALE KNOWS WHERE I HID THE ORIGINAL SHARE REGISTER.
Marco exhaled.
“So Vale was protecting evidence.”
Gabriel sat down slowly.
“And now someone has him.”
Belini appeared in the doorway.
Her red gown was torn near the hip.
Her red clutch was gone.
Two Moretti guards followed.
Gabriel stood.
“Where were you?”
Belini looked at Luca first.
“Carlo locked me in the service pantry.”
Emma stared.
“You were with him in the elevator.”
“Yes.”
“And the other Gabriel?”
Belini swallowed.
“I thought it was Gabriel until he turned.”
Gabriel’s face hardened.
“You thought a man wearing my face was me?”
“He never spoke.”
Luca watched her.
“Why were you following Carlo?”
Belini’s composure faltered.
“Because he told me Gabriel was about to sell Emma’s shares.”
Gabriel stared.
“That is a lie.”
“I know that now.”
Emma folded her arms.
“What was in your clutch?”
Belini went still.
There.
Luca saw it too.
“Belini.”
She closed her eyes.
“A relay device.”
Marco’s expression sharpened.
“For credential capture?”
“Yes.”
Gabriel looked disgusted.
“You carried that into the gala?”
“Carlo said it was to prove someone was hacking you.”
“And you believed him?”
“No.”
“Then why?”
Belini’s eyes filled with anger.
“Because he had my brother.”
Silence.
Emma frowned.
“Your brother?”
“Adrian disappeared yesterday. Carlo sent me a photograph.”
She looked toward Gabriel.
“He said if I did not keep the relay near you and Emma, Adrian would disappear permanently.”
Luca’s voice stayed controlled.
“Did you clone their access?”
“I carried the device. Carlo did the rest.”
Marco held up the recovered laptop.
“Then this framed all three of you.”
Belini stared.
“Three?”
“You, Emma, Gabriel.”
Her face changed.
Luca continued.
“Someone wanted the audit to show a family conspiracy.”
Emma looked at Daniel’s letter.
The Salazars will try to make the Navarros accuse each other.
Eleven years ago.
Her father had known exactly what would happen.
Then Marco’s phone rang.
He listened.
“Found Vale.”
Emma stood.
“Alive?”
“Yes.”
“Where?”
Marco looked at Luca.
“Navarro Pier Four.”
Gabriel frowned.
“That pier closed ten years ago.”
Marco nodded.
“Vale is tied to a chair inside the old customs office.”
Emma’s stomach turned.
“And Carlo?”
“Camera picked up a black sedan leaving five minutes ago.”
Luca looked at Daniel’s letter.
Then at Emma.
“Vale was not running.”
“No.”
“He was being moved.”
Emma folded the paper.
“And whoever took him knows he has something they still need.”
Luca’s gaze dropped to the two old keys from Vale’s briefcase.
“Not something.”
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