Chapter 9: The Fourth Director's Secret
The office door shook again.
"Leah!"" Victor shouted.
"Give me the documents, and nobody gets hurt.""
Daniel whispered, "Stay behind me.""
Christopher was breathing heavily.
I held the brown file against my chest.
Outside, footsteps moved across the concrete floor.
Marcus shouted again.
"Back away from the door!""
Then came the sound of a struggle.
A heavy object struck the wall.
I reached for my phone, but Daniel caught my wrist.
"Don't turn on the flashlight.""
The door handle moved.
Once.
Twice.
Then stopped.
Victor's voice came again.
"You don't understand what you're holding, Leah.""
I stood slowly.
"Then explain it.""
Silence.
I moved closer to the door.
"You've been stealing from Rowan Capital for eleven years. You helped Arthur forge my father's documents. You knew about the attempted transfer of my shares.""
Victor laughed bitterly.
"Your father was a stubborn old man.""
Daniel looked at me sharply.
I continued.
"And now you're trying to finish what he started?""
"No. I'm trying to prevent you from making the same mistake.""
"What mistake?""
"Believing that your father's money belongs to you.""
I looked at Christopher.
His face was pale.
Victor continued.
"Edward promised me a controlling stake in Rowan Capital. He promised Arthur the same thing. Then he changed the agreement and left everything to you.""
I felt something cold settle in my chest.
"So this was never about Grant.""
Victor laughed.
"Grant was useful. Ambitious. Easily manipulated. Arthur knew exactly how to use him.""
"And Sloane?""
"Just another tool.""
I looked at the door.
"Did you tell Grant about the money?""
"He knew enough.""
"Did he know about my father's death?""
A long silence followed.
Then Victor answered.
"He knew your father wasn't supposed to die that night.""
My knees weakened.
Daniel grabbed my arm.
"Victor, be careful what you say.""
Victor ignored him.
"Edward was supposed to sign a new agreement. He refused. Arthur lost control. Everything happened too quickly.""
I stared at the door.
"Are you saying Arthur killed my father?""
"I didn't say that.""
"But you know what happened.""
Victor's voice dropped.
"I know what was supposed to happen.""
Then a crash echoed from the hallway.
Marcus shouted:
"POLICE! DON'T MOVE!""
Footsteps thundered across the warehouse.
Someone yelled.
A struggle followed.
Then silence.
Daniel opened the office door.
Marcus stood near the entrance, holding a man against the wall.
Victor Hayes.
Two uniformed officers entered behind him.
One of them approached Daniel.
"Everyone all right?""
Daniel nodded.
"Yes. We need to preserve the entire scene.""
Victor looked directly at me.
"You think this ends with me?""
I stared back.
"No. I think it begins with you.""
The officer placed handcuffs on his wrists.
As they escorted him out, Victor turned one last time.
"Ask Arthur who signed the original death report.""
Then he disappeared into the darkness outside.
At 8:45 p.m., we were back at Rowan Capital.
The police had secured the warehouse.
The brown file had been photographed and sealed.
Victor was being questioned.
I sat in my office with the original accident report in front of me.
My father had died in a car accident.
That was what the official record said.
But the family had always been told he'd suffered a cardiac arrest.
I'd attended his funeral.
I'd watched them lower the casket.
And now I was learning that the man who had been driving his car had died in the same incident.
I looked at Daniel.
"Why was I never told about the accident?""
He lowered his head.
"Because the police report listed no suspicious circumstances. Your father's doctor signed the medical certification, and the family accepted the cardiac event as the cause.""
"Did you see the report?""
"No.""
"Did you ask?""
"I trusted the medical examiner's findings.""
I pushed the paper away.
"Everyone trusted everyone. That's how this happened.""
Daniel didn't defend himself.
Maya entered carrying a laptop.
"Leah, we've found the original death certificate.""
She placed it on the desk.
The document showed my father's cause of death as cardiac arrest following a vehicle collision.
The attending physician was Dr. Warren.
The second signature belonged to a medical examiner named Dr. Samuel Pierce.
I stared at the name.
"Is he still alive?""
Maya shook her head.
"He died six years ago.""
I leaned back.
"Then how do we verify the signature?""
Maya opened another file.
"There's a problem.""
"What?""
"Dr. Pierce's medical examiner license had been suspended four months before your father's death.""
Daniel stood.
"That's impossible.""
"According to the licensing board, he was prohibited from signing death certifications during that period.""
I looked at the document.
"Then who signed this?""
Maya zoomed in.
The signature was slightly different from the examples in the licensing archive.
"Someone forged it," she said.
I looked at Daniel.
"Can we identify the person?""
"Not yet.""
Maya continued.
"But the death certificate was processed through a private medical services company.""
"Which company?""
She displayed the name.
*PIERCE MEDICAL CONSULTING.*
Daniel frowned.
"That company was owned by Arthur Finch's brother.""
I closed my eyes.
Every path led back to Arthur.
But Victor had said something else.
Ask Arthur who signed the original death report.
I looked at the time.
"Where is Arthur?""
Daniel checked his phone.
"Police haven't located him yet.""
"Then we find him.""
At 10:20 p.m., my phone rang.
An unfamiliar number.
I answered.
"Hello?""
A man's voice spoke quietly.
"Leah Rowan?""
"Who is this?""
"My name is Jonathan Reed.""
I froze.
Christopher had told us Jonathan Reed was dead.
The driver.
The fourth director.
The man who supposedly died in the same accident as my father.
I looked at Daniel and pressed speaker.
"Where are you?""
"I can't tell you that.""
"You're listed as deceased.""
"I know.""
I gripped the phone.
"Then who died in that accident?""
There was a pause.
"Someone else.""
My stomach tightened.
"What do you mean?""
"Arthur arranged for another man to be identified as me. I was supposed to disappear.""
"Why?""
"Because I knew what happened to Edward.""
I looked at Daniel.
He was already recording the call through the legal evidence system.
"Tell me what happened that night.""
Jonathan exhaled.
"Your father had discovered that Arthur, Victor, and Grant were planning to take control of Rowan Capital. He was going to report them the following morning.""
"And?""
"They confronted him at the warehouse.""
"Was Grant there?""
"Yes.""
I closed my eyes.
"Did he hurt my father?""
"Not physically. But he helped arrange the meeting.""
"What happened?""
"Edward refused to sign the transfer. Arthur became aggressive. They argued. Then Edward collapsed.""
"Was it a heart attack?""
Jonathan hesitated.
"I don't know.""
"Did someone call an ambulance?""
"Not immediately.""
My hand began shaking.
"How long?""
"Long enough.""
I looked at Daniel.
He was staring at the phone.
Jonathan continued.
"Arthur ordered everyone to leave. He said he'd handle the situation. Then he called someone at the hospital.""
"Who?""
"I don't know. But the official report was changed.""
"Why did you disappear?""
"Because I was the only person who could prove that the accident report was false.""
"Why didn't you come forward?""
His voice cracked.
"Because Arthur threatened my family. And because Grant told me he would make sure my daughter never saw her father again.""
I felt sick.
"Where is your daughter now?""
"Safe. But I can't risk this going public without protection.""
Daniel leaned toward the phone.
"Mr. Reed, this is Daniel Mercer. We can arrange protection through the appropriate authorities. But we need your cooperation.""
Jonathan was silent.
Then he said:
"I have something Edward gave me before he died.""
"What?""
"The original ownership agreement.""
I sat forward.
"We already have the trust documents.""
"Not this one. The agreement between Edward and Arthur. It proves Arthur was never supposed to receive shares in Rowan Capital.""
Daniel looked at me.
"Where is it?""
"Safe.""
"Can you deliver it?""
"Tomorrow morning. But there's one condition.""
"What?""
Jonathan's voice dropped.
"Leah must meet me alone.""
Daniel immediately shook his head.
"Absolutely not.""
I didn't respond.
Jonathan continued.
"There's another name on that agreement. Someone your father trusted more than anyone.""
"Who?""
He hesitated.
"Your mother.""
I didn't sleep that night.
At 3:17 a.m., I sat in the kitchen of the Myers Park house, staring at my father's letter.
My mother.
She'd been living in London for the last five years.
We spoke occasionally, usually on birthdays or holidays.
She'd never mentioned Rowan Capital.
She'd never mentioned Nathan.
And she'd never told me anything about the night my father died.
I picked up my phone.
Her number was still saved.
I called.
It rang four times.
Then she answered.
"Leah?""
Her voice sounded sleepy.
"Mom, I need to ask you something.""
A pause.
"What's happened?""
"Did you know my father had another son?""
Silence.
Then a quiet sigh.
"Yes.""
I closed my eyes.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because your father asked me not to.""
"Did you know about Rowan Capital?""
"Yes.""
"Did you know Grant was involved in what happened the night Dad died?""
The silence lasted longer this time.
Then my mother said:
"I was there.""
I stood.
"What?""
"I was at the warehouse that night.""
My heart began pounding.
"Mom, what are you talking about?""
"I went there after your father called me. He said he needed to tell me something important.""
"Did you see Grant?""
"Yes.""
"Did you see Arthur?""
"Yes.""
I gripped the kitchen counter.
"What happened?""
My mother began crying.
"Your father was already on the floor when I arrived.""
"Was he alive?""
"Yes.""
"Then why didn't anyone help him?""
She whispered:
"Arthur told us the ambulance was already coming.""
I felt my throat close.
"Who was with him?""
"Grant. Arthur. Victor. And Jonathan.""
"What did you do?""
"I tried to call emergency services myself. Arthur took my phone.""
I stared at the wall.
"Mom, what happened next?""
She struggled to speak.
"Your father opened his eyes. He looked at me and said one thing.""
"What?""
"Protect Leah.""
I couldn't breathe.
My mother continued.
"Then he said something else.""
"What?""
She lowered her voice.
"Don't let them find the second company.""
I looked at Daniel's papers on the table.
"What second company?""
My mother whispered:
"Edward had another investment group. One he never listed in Rowan Capital's records.""
I stared at the phone.
"Who owned it?""
She took a shaky breath.
"Your father created it for Nathan.""
I frowned.
"Why would he need another company?""
"Because he believed Rowan Capital was compromised. He wanted Nathan to have something separate, something no one could take.""
"Where is it?""
My mother went quiet.
Then she said:
"Leah, there's something else I haven't told you.""
"What?""
"Your father didn't leave Nathan the company.""
I frowned.
"Then who?""
My mother whispered:
"He left it to Grant.""
I froze.
"That's impossible.""
"I know what the documents said.""
"Why would Dad give Grant another company?""
"He didn't give it to him willingly.""
I looked toward the window.
The first light of morning was beginning to appear.
My mother continued.
"Arthur told your father that unless he transferred the company, Grant would expose something that could destroy our entire family.""
"What could possibly be worse than what he's already done?""
My mother began sobbing.
Then she said:
"Grant knew about Nathan's birth before your father died.""
I stood motionless.
"What does that mean?""
"It means Grant wasn't just trying to steal your inheritance.""
She paused.
"He was trying to hide the fact that Nathan was the rightful owner of something far more valuable.""
My phone vibrated.
A new email appeared from Daniel.
*URGENT: JONATHAN REED HAS SENT THE ORIGINAL AGREEMENT. YOU NEED TO SEE THE FINAL PAGE.*
I opened the attachment.
The document showed the ownership of the secret investment company.
At the bottom was a handwritten amendment.
*BENEFICIAL OWNER: NATHAN EDWARD ROWAN.*
But beside it was another name.
The person appointed to manage the company until Nathan reached thirty-five.
*GRANT ROWAN.*
I stared at the screen.
Nathan was thirty-one.
And Grant had been managing his company for eleven years.
I looked at my mother.
"Mom, what is this company worth?""
She didn't answer immediately.
Then she whispered:
"Your father estimated it would be worth more than five billion dollars.""
I felt the room spin.
Grant wasn't simply trying to steal my thirty-two percent.
He was already controlling another fortune.
And Nathan, the brother I had never met, might not even know it existed.
Then Daniel sent one final message.
*LEAH, JONATHAN SAYS NATHAN HAS BEEN MISSING FOR THREE DAYS.*
I looked at the ownership agreement.
At the name of my missing brother.
And at the man appointed to manage his fortune.
Grant Rowan.
For the first time, I understood the real reason my husband had wanted me out of that boardroom.
May you like
He wasn't just trying to take my shares.
He was trying to make sure nobody ever discovered who the rightful heir really was.
