Chapter 6 - THE ACCOUNT
Martin Hale had been my financial advisor for eleven years.
He knew every account.
Every investment.
Every trust.
Every insurance policy.
He had helped me after my wife died.
He had helped Claire after college.
He had been at my daughter's wedding.
I trusted him.
Now I couldn't remember why.
Morales called him.
Martin answered immediately.
“Detective, is everything okay?”
“We need to speak with you.”
“Of course.”
“Tonight.”
“Absolutely.”
The call ended.
I stared at Morales.
“He sounded calm.”
“That doesn't mean anything.”
By evening, Martin arrived at the station.
Gray suit.
Blue tie.
Same friendly smile.
When he saw me, he looked genuinely concerned.
“Richard.”
I stood.
“You knew.”
His smile faded.
“Knew what?”
“Ethan.”
Martin glanced at Morales.
“I don't understand.”
“Don't lie.”
“I’m not.”
Morales placed the flash drive on the table.
Martin stared at it.
For the first time, his face changed.
Just slightly.
But enough.
“You've seen this?”
“No.”
“Then why are you afraid of it?”
Martin leaned back.
“I think you should have a lawyer present.”
“You're not under arrest,” Morales said.
“Then I'm leaving.”
He stood.
Morales blocked the door.
“Sit.”
Martin sat.
I leaned forward.
“Did you give Ethan access to my accounts?”
“No.”
“Did you provide him with information about Claire?”
“No.”
“Did you know about Liv?”
“No.”
Olivia walked into the room.
Martin went completely still.
She smiled.
“Hello, Martin.”
He whispered:
“You're supposed to be dead.”
Nobody spoke.
Martin had just confessed.
Not legally.
Not completely.
But enough.
Morales leaned forward.
“Why did you say that?”
Martin's face went pale.
“I…”
Olivia stepped closer.
“You told Ethan to make it look like I ran away.”
Martin shook his head.
“You don't understand.”
“I understand perfectly.”
“You don't know what they would do.”
“Who?”
Martin looked at me.
Then at Claire.
Then at Olivia.
Finally, he whispered:
“The organization.”
Morales narrowed his eyes.
“What organization?”
Martin said nothing.
“Talk.”
Martin shook his head.
“They'll kill my family.”
Olivia replied:
“They already killed mine.”
Martin looked at her.
“Your brother?”
She nodded.
“He was the first person who tried to expose them.”
My stomach tightened.
“What does this have to do with Claire?”
Martin looked at me.
“They didn't choose her.”
I frowned.
“What?”
“They chose you.”
I felt the room tilt.
“Me?”
Martin nodded.
“Your money.”
“What money?”
“The trust.”
My heart stopped.
“Which trust?”
Martin looked at Claire.
“The one her grandfather left.”
I understood.
The investment account.
The account Ethan had somehow learned about.
Martin continued.
“They knew Claire would eventually inherit.”
“How?”
Martin looked toward the floor.
“Because your father wasn't the only one who knew about it.”
“Who else?”
He whispered:
May you like
“Ethan's mother.”
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