Chapter 6: The Lawyer Who Knew Too Much
For several seconds, I couldn't speak.
Michael stood beside Edward's desk, staring at the photograph on Harlow's phone.
Nathan looked between them.
"That's impossible.""
Harlow enlarged the picture.
It showed Edward sitting across from Michael in a restaurant. A folder lay between them. Edward looked angry. Michael appeared to be explaining something.
The date was printed beneath the image.
Three days before Edward died.
I slowly turned toward the attorney.
"Michael?""
He didn't answer immediately.
Then he removed his glasses.
"Corinthia, I can explain.""
Harlow laughed.
"Of course you can. You've been explaining things to this family for years.""
Nathan stepped between them.
"Did you steal my father's money?""
Michael looked directly at him.
"No.""
"Did you know about the missing millions?""
"Yes.""
The answer landed like a slap.
I gripped the back of Edward's chair.
"You knew?""
Michael nodded.
"Edward discovered irregularities in the vineyard's financial accounts approximately eighteen months before his death. I was helping him investigate.""
"Then why didn't you tell me?""
"Because Edward specifically asked me not to.""
I shook my head.
"That doesn't make sense.""
Michael opened his briefcase and removed another folder.
"Edward suspected someone had been using the vineyard as collateral for unauthorized loans. The money wasn't disappearing through ordinary bank transfers. It was being moved through companies registered under different names.""
Nathan frowned.
"How much?""
"Approximately $3.8 million.""
I covered my mouth.
Michael continued.
"Edward believed the financial adviser was responsible. But before we could establish the full trail, someone accessed his private files.""
Harlow crossed her arms.
"And that someone was me?""
Michael turned toward her.
"You accessed documents you weren't authorized to see.""
She scoffed.
"Edward gave me access.""
"He gave you access to household records. Not the trust.""
Nathan looked at his wife.
"Why were you involved?""
Harlow didn't answer.
Michael placed the restaurant photograph on the desk.
"That meeting was about a missing document. Edward had discovered that the original vineyard deed had been duplicated and used to secure a private loan.""
I stared at him.
"Was our house involved?""
"No. Only the vineyard.""
"Who took the loan?""
Michael opened the folder.
A company name appeared.
HB Heritage Holdings LLC.
The same company that had received the vineyard transfer.
I looked at Harlow.
"You created that company.""
She lifted her chin.
"Yes.""
Nathan stepped backward.
"Why?""
"Because I was protecting myself.""
"From what?""
"From your father!""
Her voice cracked.
"Edward knew everything. He knew about the missing money, the loans, the financial adviser. He threatened to report everyone involved.""
Michael's expression remained controlled.
"Edward did report the irregularities. The investigation was already underway.""
Harlow shook her head.
"He never told me that.""
I stared at her.
"Why would you need to protect yourself if you hadn't done anything wrong?""
She looked away.
And that was when I understood.
She had not simply discovered Edward's financial secrets.
She had become part of them.
Nathan sat down heavily.
"Harlow, tell me the truth. Did you take the money?""
She pressed her lips together.
"Some of it.""
"How much?""
"Not all of it.""
"HOW MUCH?""
She flinched.
"One point two million.""
Nathan covered his face.
Michael immediately wrote something in his notebook.
"That would explain the private transfers.""
Harlow pointed at him.
"Don't pretend you're innocent! You knew about the account!""
Michael nodded.
"I knew Edward had discovered it. I did not know you had withdrawn the money.""
"You're lying!""
"Then show us the records.""
Harlow looked toward her suitcase.
For a moment, I thought she might run.
Instead, she pulled a small envelope from the inner pocket of her purse.
"I have something Edward left me.""
She threw it onto the desk.
Michael opened it.
Inside was a handwritten letter.
The first line was addressed to Harlow.
You have until December 31 to return what you took.
My stomach tightened.
The letter continued.
If you fail to return the funds and the original wine certificates, I will release the complete financial records to the authorities.
I looked at the date.
December 31.
Tonight.
The final deadline had been New Year's Eve.
Harlow had destroyed the thirteen display bottles because she believed she was eliminating evidence of the collection.
But she hadn't known Edward had stored the originals elsewhere.
I looked at her.
"That's why you came here tonight.""
She didn't deny it.
Michael continued reading.
There was another paragraph.
The person who has been helping you is not the person you think. He has already transferred the remaining documents to a third party.
Nathan looked up.
"Who is he talking about?""
Harlow's face changed.
Michael slowly turned the letter over.
There was a second page.
And on it, Edward had written a name.
Not Harlow's.
Not Nathan's.
A name that made Michael drop the paper.
*DANIEL REEVES.*
I stared at the attorney.
"Who is Daniel Reeves?""
Michael swallowed.
"My younger brother.""
The room went silent.
Then Harlow whispered something that none of us expected.
"Daniel wasn't just Edward's financial adviser.""
She looked at Nathan.
"He was the man who arranged the original transfer.""
Michael's phone began ringing.
He glanced at the screen.
His face turned pale.
"Corinthia, don't answer the front door.""
But the doorbell was already ringing.
Once.
Twice.
Then someone outside called my name.
"Mrs. Bellmont? It's Daniel. I believe you have something that belongs to me.""
I looked at Michael.
He was staring at the door as though he had just seen a ghost.
May you like
And then he whispered:
"Edward told me Daniel was dead.""
