Chapter 14 - Brothers
Martin did not answer his phone.
Again.
Adrian called five times from Geneva.
Nothing.
Then Ortiz received a report: Martin had checked himself out of protective custody against orders and vanished.
Adrian watched Thomas’s video twice more.
Martin Ellis.
His half brother.
Older by nine years.
The man who had handled his contracts, protected his company, lied about his past, and stood beside him at his father’s funeral.
Claire sat across from Adrian in the bank’s conference room.
“You’re thinking he knew.”
“He had to.”
“Maybe not.”
“He signed the trust documents.”
“As a lawyer. Not necessarily as a son.”
Adrian rubbed his face. “How many times are you going to make me consider the less angry option?”
“As many as necessary.”
A Swiss investigator entered. Richard had left his hotel two hours earlier. Vanessa was not with him.
Then a bank employee brought a second envelope found behind the video case.
It was addressed to Martin.
Inside was a letter from Thomas.
MARTIN, I SHOULD HAVE TOLD YOU BEFORE. YOU DESERVED A FATHER WHO CLAIMED YOU. I WAS A COWARD.
Adrian stopped reading.
Claire finished silently.
Thomas had planned to acknowledge Martin and Vanessa publicly after exposing Richard’s financial scheme.
He died two days before doing it.
Adrian finally understood why Martin stayed close to the Vale family.
Maybe not for money.
Maybe for answers.
His phone rang.
Martin.
Adrian answered instantly. “Where are you?”
“At the Hart estate outside Montreux.”
“What?”
“I found Vanessa.”
“Is she alive?”
“Yes.”
Adrian closed his eyes in relief.
“Get out.”
“I can’t.”
“Why?”
“Richard has the estate locked down. And he knows who I am now.”
Adrian froze.
Martin laughed bitterly. “Turns out your father’s secrets keep excellent timing.”
“Stay where you are.”
“No. Listen to me. Richard has another ledger. The one in the bank proves fraud. His proves who approved the payoffs after Thomas died.”
“Who?”
Martin went quiet.
“Adrian, there’s something else. The person using the ‘M’ number isn’t me.”
“Then who is it?”
A crash sounded through the phone.
Martin whispered, “Claire’s mother.”
The call cut.
Adrian slowly turned toward Claire.
May you like
She stared at him.
“My mother died when I was nineteen,” she said.
