Chapter 6 - Her Father’s File
Claire put the call on speaker.
Daniel’s face hardened.
“Owen,” Claire said. “Tell me exactly what you found.”
Her brother breathed unevenly on the other end.
“A toxicology amendment.”
Vanessa closed her eyes.
Daniel looked at her.
That look told Claire more than the words.
Owen continued.
“Dad was admitted with an abnormal sedative level. The original chart flagged it. The amended chart removed it.”
Claire’s hand tightened around the phone.
“Who changed it?”
“A consulting physician signed the amendment.”
“Name.”
Owen hesitated.
“Dr. Peter Cross.”
Vanessa’s father.
Claire looked at her.
Vanessa whispered, “I didn’t know.”
Daniel barked a laugh.
“Of course you knew.”
She turned on him.
“No, I didn’t.”
Claire watched them.
The alliance cracked.
Good.
Owen said, “Claire, I also found wire transfers from Dad’s company to a shell corporation. It started eight months before he died.”
“What corporation?”
“DVC Holdings.”
Daniel’s initials.
Daniel stepped forward.
“This is nonsense.”
Owen shouted through the phone, “I have the records.”
Claire’s mind flashed through years of memories.
Her father praising Daniel.
Inviting him into meetings.
Giving him access.
Trusting him.
Her stomach turned.
“What did you do to my father?”
Daniel stared at her.
“Nothing.”
“Then why did money go to your company?”
“It wasn’t my company.”
“DVC?”
“Could mean anything.”
Maria said quietly, “Daniel Victor Cole.”
Everyone looked at her.
Claire’s mouth went dry.
Daniel’s middle name was Victor.
Cole was his mother’s maiden name.
Maria had worked for Claire’s parents before she worked for Claire.
She knew.
The next minutes moved fast, and every answer only exposed a deeper part of Daniel’s plan.
“It wasn’t supposed to go this far.”
Claire stared at both of them.
Twenty-two million dollars.
Her father dead.
A false medical amendment.
A poisoned drink.
A signature deadline.
Then Owen spoke again.
“Claire… there’s more.”
A siren sounded outside.
Daniel looked toward the windows.
Owen whispered, “I called the police.”
Daniel smiled.
“No, you didn’t.”
The security monitor lit up.
A black SUV rolled through the front gate.
Not a police car.
May you like
Daniel looked at Claire.
“I did.”
