Chapter 10: The Secret Beneath My Father's Office
"Nobody moves until we get there.""
Detective Hill's voice cut through the room.
I grabbed my handbag.
"Then let's go.""
James stepped in front of me.
"Olivia, you're not going inside that building without police protection.""
"My brother is in there with the man who may have destroyed my father's life. I'm not sitting in a car waiting for someone to tell me what happened.""
"You're not thinking clearly.""
I looked directly at him.
"James, my father spent eleven years protecting me from something I didn't even know existed. I think I've earned the right to see it.""
He studied my face before finally nodding.
"Then you stay behind the officers. No exceptions.""
Twenty minutes later, three police vehicles pulled up outside the old Bennett office building.
It was a brick structure on a quiet street in Buckhead. The company had moved its headquarters years earlier, but the building still carried the original bronze sign.
BENNETT FINANCIAL GROUP.
My father's name.
I hadn't visited in nearly a decade.
Detective Hill spoke into his radio.
"Unit two, cover the rear entrance. Unit three, check the parking area.""
James stood beside me.
"Your father used to spend entire weekends here.""
"I remember.""
"He believed this building held the foundation of everything he wanted to leave you.""
I looked at the dark windows.
"Then why did he hide something beneath it?""
James didn't answer.
An officer approached.
"Detective, we found two vehicles registered to Thomas Whitmore and Nathan Bennett.""
"Any sign of them?""
"Movement in the basement.""
Detective Hill turned toward us.
"Stay here.""
He entered with two officers.
I lasted approximately fifteen seconds before following.
James caught up.
"Olivia!""
We reached the basement corridor just as Detective Hill stopped outside a heavy metal door.
The lock had been forced.
A faint light came from inside.
"Police! Come out with your hands visible!""
A chair scraped.
Then Nathan appeared.
His shirt was untucked, his hair disheveled, and there was dust across his face.
"Olivia?""
I stepped forward.
"Nathan, what are you doing?""
He looked at the officers.
"I can explain.""
"Where's Thomas?""
Nathan glanced toward the room.
A second later, Thomas Whitmore emerged.
He looked perfectly composed.
Silver hair neatly combed. Dark suit. Leather briefcase.
The same man who had stood beside my father for twenty-three years.
"Olivia," he said calmly.
"You've grown into quite the investigator.""
I felt disgust rise in my throat.
"Did you steal from my father?""
Thomas sighed.
"Your father became increasingly confused toward the end of his life.""
"Don't you dare.""
He raised both hands.
"I'm simply saying that Robert made poor financial decisions.""
James stepped forward.
"Then why did you access the trust's records using forged authorization?""
Thomas looked at him.
"James, this is a family matter.""
"No. It's a criminal investigation.""
Detective Hill instructed the officers to secure the room.
Inside, I saw an old desk, several filing cabinets, and a metal safe with its door hanging open.
Documents were scattered across the floor.
My father's handwriting covered several folders.
I approached the desk.
A photograph sat beneath a glass paperweight.
It showed my father holding me when I was about six years old.
I picked it up.
On the back, he'd written:
Everything I built was for Olivia. Never let anyone take that from her.
My eyes burned.
Then I noticed something unusual.
A small wooden panel beneath the desk had been removed.
"What's this?""
Nathan looked over.
"Don't touch it.""
I turned.
"Why?""
He swallowed.
"Because that's where Dad kept the original documents.""
Thomas suddenly moved toward the desk.
"That's private property.""
Detective Hill blocked him.
"Step away.""
I crouched beside the opening.
Inside was a small metal box.
It was empty.
Except for a folded piece of paper.
I pulled it out.
My father's handwriting.
The original agreement is not here. If they have reached this room, they already know about the second vault.
I looked at James.
"Second vault?""
He shook his head.
"I've never heard of one.""
Thomas laughed.
"Robert was always dramatic.""
Nathan suddenly shouted.
"Stop pretending!""
Everyone turned.
He was staring at Thomas.
"You told me the original documents were here. You said if we found them, the whole thing would be over.""
Thomas's expression hardened.
"Be quiet, Nathan.""
"You promised me the debt would disappear!""
Detective Hill stepped closer.
"What debt?""
Nathan looked at me.
His eyes filled with tears.
"Three hundred thousand wasn't all I owed.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"How much?""
He lowered his head.
"Almost two million.""
Thomas interrupted.
"Nathan is under considerable stress. He doesn't know what he's saying.""
Nathan laughed bitterly.
"You're the reason I owed that money!""
He pointed at Thomas.
"You introduced me to those investors. You told me the money was legitimate. Then you used my company to move the stolen funds.""
Thomas's face changed.
For the first time, he looked genuinely afraid.
Detective Hill instructed the officers to separate them.
I turned toward Nathan.
"Why didn't you come to me?""
He looked at me.
"Because Thomas said he'd destroy you if I did.""
"How long have you known?""
Nathan couldn't answer.
I stepped closer.
"How long?""
"Eleven years.""
The words nearly knocked me off balance.
Eleven years.
My entire marriage.
My father's death.
My brother's silence.
All of it.
Then an officer called from the far side of the room.
"Detective, you need to see this.""
He held up a small envelope found behind the safe.
My name was written on it.
Olivia.
Detective Hill handed it to me.
Inside was a photograph of Daniel standing beside Thomas outside a courthouse.
On the back was a date.
Three days before Daniel proposed to me.
Beneath it, my father had written:
If Daniel marries Olivia, he will gain access to the one thing I cannot protect her from.
I stared at the words.
"What was he talking about?""
James looked over my shoulder.
His face became pale.
"Olivia...""
"What?""
He swallowed.
"Your father wasn't worried Daniel would steal the company.""
I turned toward him.
"Then what was he worried about?""
James looked at Thomas.
Thomas smiled faintly.
May you like
And then he said:
"Because Daniel already owned something that legally belonged to your father.""
