Chapter 10: The Brother Who Was Never My Brother
For several seconds, I couldn't understand the words my father had just spoken.
Daniel wasn't my brother by blood.
He was Michael Grant's son.
I looked at the letter in Robert's hands, then at the photograph of my mother holding a newborn baby. The date on the photograph, the medical file, the altered trust, and the mysterious account suddenly seemed connected by a thread I couldn't yet see.
"You're telling me Daniel is Michael Grant's son?"" I asked.
My father nodded.
"Yes.""
"Then whose child was he when you brought him home?""
Dad lowered himself into a chair in the bank's private consultation room.
"Your mother gave birth to Daniel when you were three years old. She told me he was mine. I believed her.""
I shook my head.
"How could you not know?""
"Because I was working overseas when he was conceived. When I returned, your mother was already pregnant. We had been struggling to have another child for years, and I never questioned her.""
Robert folded his arms.
"When did you discover the truth?""
"Seven years ago. During my investigation into the missing money, I found a hospital record linking Daniel's birth to Michael Grant.""
I stared at him.
"And you said nothing?""
"I confronted your mother. She admitted she'd had a relationship with Michael before our marriage was in trouble. She said she'd ended it and believed Daniel was mine.""
"But the records proved otherwise?""
"Yes.""
I walked to the window overlooking the empty street.
My whole life, I'd believed Daniel and I shared the same parents, the same childhood, and the same family history.
We had fought over toys, competed in school, and spent summers building terrible contraptions in the garage. When I got my first job, Daniel had celebrated with me. When our father supposedly died, we had held each other at the funeral.
Had any of those moments been real?
I turned back.
"Did Daniel know?""
Dad hesitated.
"I believe he discovered the truth as a teenager. Michael contacted him privately after your mother disappeared from our lives.""
"And what did Michael tell him?""
"That he was his biological father. That our family had stolen his rightful inheritance. And that if Daniel helped him gain control of Carter Industries, he would finally receive everything he believed he deserved.""
I stared at the photograph.
"So this entire scheme was about inheritance?""
"Partly.""
"What does that mean?""
Dad looked at Robert.
The attorney opened the final envelope from the safety deposit box.
Inside was a photocopy of a trust agreement dated twenty-one years earlier. Unlike the altered document we'd seen at the wedding, this one contained an additional clause.
Robert read it twice.
"Richard, this isn't merely an inheritance arrangement.""
"No," Dad replied.
"It's a protection agreement.""
Robert looked at me.
"Your mother established a separate trust for you, Ethan. It contains voting rights connected to a substantial portion of Carter Industries. The trust was designed to protect those shares from anyone attempting to seize control of the company through fraud or coercion.""
"Who controls it?""
"Your mother appointed an independent trustee. But there's a condition. The trustee must release the controlling documents when the beneficiary identifies the person responsible for the fraudulent transfer.""
I frowned.
"Then why hasn't it been released?""
"Because the trustee has been receiving contradictory instructions from Michael Grant's legal office," Robert said.
"Someone has been trying to make it appear that you authorized the transfer yourself.""
I thought of the disputed signature and the security key.
"Who could access my credentials?""
"Someone with senior-level access to the company systems," Robert answered.
"But the evidence isn't sufficient to name anyone yet.""
My phone vibrated.
A message from Carter Industries' security director appeared.
*Emergency alert: CFO Samantha Cole has requested an administrative shutdown of the financial records system. Request denied pending your authorization.*
I showed Robert.
He read it, then looked at Dad.
"Could Samantha be trying to destroy evidence?""
"Or preserve it," Dad replied.
I called her.
She answered immediately.
"Ethan? Thank God.""
"What's happening at the company?""
"I've locked down the financial systems. Someone tried to access the archived transaction records using your executive credentials.""
"Who?""
"I don't know yet. The request came through a remote administrative session, and the access trail has been partially overwritten.""
"Did you initiate the shutdown?""
"Yes. I needed to prevent another transfer.""
"Why didn't you contact me first?""
"Because someone has been monitoring your communications.""
I glanced at Detective Morgan.
"Do you have evidence?""
"I have enough to know that the transfer request wasn't an isolated incident. Ethan, there are financial records going back seven years. The same shell company appears repeatedly, and the approvals carry your father's old authorization code.""
Dad stepped closer to the phone.
"Samantha, this is Richard Carter.""
She went silent.
Then she whispered, "Mr. Carter?""
"I'm alive.""
A shaky breath escaped her.
"I knew it.""
I stared at the phone.
"You knew my father was alive?""
"No," she said quickly.
"I suspected someone had falsified the records, but I never knew where he was. I've spent years trying to understand what happened to the original files.""
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because I was warned that if I spoke about the missing records, someone would release documents implicating you in the fraud.""
My stomach tightened.
"Who warned you?""
She hesitated.
"Michael Grant.""
Robert immediately motioned for me to put the call on speaker.
Samantha continued.
"He told me that the company would collapse if I disclosed the truth. He said thousands of employees would lose their jobs, and he'd make certain the blame fell on you.""
"Do you have anything that connects him to the transfers?""
"Yes. An encrypted archive. I've kept a copy on an offline drive.""
"Where?""
"At my house.""
"Don't go there," Detective Morgan said, stepping forward.
"If someone has been monitoring your communications, your home may not be safe.""
Samantha heard her.
"Who's that?""
"Detective Morgan," I replied.
"We're investigating the fraud.""
She exhaled.
"Then I need to tell you something else. I found an internal memo three days ago. It was addressed to Michael Grant, but the sender used a private company email account.""
"Whose account?""
Samantha's answer made my blood run cold.
"Vanessa Reed.""
I closed my eyes.
Of course.
My bride hadn't merely been discussing my money with Daniel. She had been corresponding with the attorney who had helped alter my father's estate records.
"What did the memo say?"" I asked.
"That the wedding had to take place before the end of the month because the trust's marriage-related restriction would otherwise expire.""
I looked at Robert.
He went pale.
"Marriage-related restriction?"" I repeated.
Samantha continued.
"The memo said that once you married Vanessa, she could file a claim as your spouse against a separate marital asset agreement. Michael believed that would give him leverage over the voting shares.""
Robert shook his head.
"That's not how the trust works.""
"Then why would he believe it?""
"Because he doesn't have the original agreement," Robert said.
"He's been working from the altered version.""
Dad leaned toward the phone.
"Samantha, where is the original file?""
"I don't know. But the memo mentions a second copy hidden somewhere only Michael can access.""
Before I could ask another question, Samantha whispered, "Ethan, someone's at my door.""
A loud knock sounded through the phone.
"Who is it?"" she called.
A man's voice answered from the other side.
"Police. We need you to open the door.""
Detective Morgan frowned.
"That isn't my team.""
Samantha began to panic.
"Ethan, I didn't call anyone.""
Another knock.
Then the voice spoke again.
"Ms. Cole, we have a warrant.""
Detective Morgan immediately ordered an officer to trace the call.
Samantha's breathing grew ragged.
"They're trying to get inside.""
"Don't open the door," I told her.
A crash sounded through the speaker.
Then the line went dead.
I stared at my phone.
Robert was already gathering the documents.
Detective Morgan spoke urgently into her radio.
And my father looked at me with a grim expression.
"Michael knows we've found the trust.""
I slipped the brass key into my pocket.
"Then we're going to find him.""
But before we could leave, another message appeared on my screen.
It contained a photograph of Samantha's front door, splintered around the lock.
May you like
Beneath it were six words.
*YOUR FATHER'S SECRET WILL BURY YOU BOTH.*
