Chapter 10: The Woman Who Knew Everything
"Call her.""
My father's voice was barely recognizable.
James immediately dialed Margaret's number.
It rang six times before going to voicemail.
He tried again.
Nothing.
"Get security to check her office," my father ordered.
"And contact the building management. I want to know whether she left with any company documents.""
James nodded and hurried out.
I stared at the photograph of my grandfather.
Margaret had worked for my father for almost fifteen years. She had handled his most confidential business matters, attended family celebrations, and helped prepare the paperwork for my wedding.
She had even represented me during the early stages of my divorce.
I remembered sitting in her office, crying because Daniel had demanded that I give up my shares.
She had handed me tissues and told me everything would be all right.
Had she known?
Had she been helping him?
"Why would Margaret have my grandfather's signature?"" I asked.
My father sat down.
"She was a junior attorney when your grandfather died. She handled several documents connected to the trust.""
"Did you trust her?""
"Completely.""
I looked at the photograph again.
"Then why is she running?""
He didn't answer.
Twenty minutes later, James returned.
"Her office is empty. Her computer has been wiped, and her access card was used at the underground parking garage at 6:17 this morning.""
"Where did she go?"" my father asked.
"Her car was found near Penn Station.""
I stood.
"She's leaving the city.""
James shook his head.
"Possibly. But there's something else.""
He placed a printed security report on the table.
Margaret had accessed an archived legal server at 5:42 that morning.
The file she opened was labeled:
*BENNETT TRUST — ORIGINAL TESTAMENTARY INSTRUCTIONS.*
I leaned forward.
"Can we retrieve it?""
"Not yet. The file was deleted after she accessed it.""
My father slammed his hand against the table.
"She's had access to that server for fifteen years!""
James remained calm.
"We can recover the backup. But it will take time.""
I looked at my father.
"There's something we haven't considered.""
"What?""
"Margaret didn't just disappear after we started investigating. She disappeared after someone sent us the photograph.""
My father frowned.
"Are you suggesting she received the same photograph?""
"Or that she knew it was coming.""
James nodded thoughtfully.
"That's possible.""
My phone vibrated.
An unknown number.
A message appeared.
Olivia, I know you think I'm the villain. But your grandfather made me promise to protect you.
I stared at the screen.
Another message followed.
Meet me at the old courthouse archive. Come without your father.
I showed James.
He immediately shook his head.
"Absolutely not.""
My father took the phone.
"Margaret has no reason to insist on meeting you alone.""
I read the message again.
Then another arrived.
If Richard comes, you'll never learn why your grandfather died believing his own family had betrayed him.
My blood ran cold.
My father read it.
His expression changed.
"Olivia, you're not going anywhere without security.""
We arranged the meeting through James.
At four that afternoon, I entered the old courthouse archive with two security officers waiting outside.
Margaret was sitting at a wooden table near the back.
She looked older than I remembered.
Her usual immaculate appearance was gone. Her hair was untidy, and her hands shook as she opened a leather folder.
"You came," she whispered.
"Start talking.""
She looked toward the entrance.
"Is Richard outside?""
"He's not here.""
She exhaled.
Then she removed an old photograph from the folder.
It showed my grandfather sitting at his desk.
Margaret stood beside him.
She couldn't have been more than thirty.
"He trusted me," she said.
"So did my father.""
She looked down.
"Your grandfather discovered that Arthur Carter and Martin Hayes were diverting money from the trust. He wanted to report them.""
"Then why didn't he?""
"Because someone threatened to expose Richard's involvement in an earlier transaction.""
I frowned.
"What involvement?""
Margaret hesitated.
"Your father had signed a temporary administrative authorization. He believed it would protect the trust. Martin later used that authorization to move assets without permission.""
I remembered what my father had told me.
"Did Grandpa know?""
"Yes. And he was furious.""
Margaret opened the folder.
Inside was a handwritten letter.
"Your grandfather asked me to prepare a new trust agreement. He wanted Richard removed as trustee temporarily while the investigation continued.""
I stared at her.
"Did my father know?""
"Not immediately.""
"Then why did you sign as a witness?""
Margaret's eyes filled with tears.
"Because I watched your grandfather sign it.""
She turned the page.
"But before we could file it, he died.""
I felt my chest tighten.
"Are you saying Martin killed him?""
Margaret looked horrified.
"No. I have no evidence of that. Your grandfather died from a medical emergency. But Martin used the chaos afterward to destroy the revised agreement.""
"Why?""
"Because it would have removed him from control of the trust.""
She pushed another document toward me.
It was a letter written in my grandfather's handwriting.
My dear Olivia,
If you are reading this, it means the people I trusted failed to protect what I built for you.
I stopped.
My eyes blurred.
Margaret continued quietly.
"He wrote it for you. He wanted you to know the company was never meant to be a gift you had to earn. It was something he built so you'd never have to depend on anyone else's permission to stand on your own feet.""
I wiped my eyes.
"Why didn't you give this to me?""
Margaret looked devastated.
"Martin threatened to expose Richard's earlier authorization. I was young. I was afraid of losing my career. I convinced myself I could protect the trust from inside.""
"And then you helped them use my signature?""
"No.""
She shook her head.
"I never authorized the divorce documents or the guarantee. But I knew Martin was trying to take control. I should have stopped him years ago.""
I stared at her.
"Why tell me now?""
She reached into her handbag.
"Because Martin has the original agreement. And tomorrow, he's going to destroy it.""
"Where?""
"At the Carter family office. There's a private document vault.""
I stood.
"Then we get it.""
Margaret grabbed my wrist.
"There's one more thing.""
Her voice dropped.
"The original agreement names a successor trustee. Someone your grandfather personally selected.""
I frowned.
"Who?""
She looked directly at me.
"Not your father.""
Then she slid a folded page across the table.
The name written at the bottom made my breath catch.
*Olivia Bennett.*
My grandfather had appointed me as the successor trustee from the beginning.
And the appointment had never legally expired.
Margaret looked at me.
"Olivia, if Martin discovers you have that document, he'll do anything to stop you from taking control.""
Before I could answer, the lights in the archive flickered.
A phone rang somewhere behind us.
Margaret looked toward the sound.
May you like
Then she whispered:
"He's here.""
