Chapter 6
The Lawyer Who Knew Too Much
Malcolm Reid arrived at Victor's office the next morning without being invited.
He was sixty-eight, silver-haired, immaculate, and famous for never carrying paper into a room unless he intended someone else to sign it.
This time, he carried a leather folder.
Victor did not offer him coffee.
"You drove the SUV."
Malcolm sat down.
"Yes."
The direct answer surprised him.
"Why?"
"Because Victoria told me Lily was in immediate danger."
Victor's eyes narrowed.
"From me?"
"From Daniel."
That was not the answer Victor expected.
Malcolm placed the folder on the desk but kept one hand on it.
"Three weeks ago, Victoria came to me with documents showing Daniel had been paying Brutus Kane through an offshore consulting account. She said Daniel was pressuring her to help remove you from control of Lily's trust."
"So you helped her file for guardianship?"
"I drafted the petition. I did not file it."
Victor's voice sharpened. "That's not better."
"No. It isn't."
For the first time in his life, Malcolm Reid looked tired.
"Victoria claimed the filing was a decoy. She said Daniel was watching her, and if she appeared to cooperate, he would expose himself."
Victor thought of the loading dock image.
"And the SUV?"
"She asked me to be ready to take Lily somewhere secure if Daniel's people showed up."
"Brutus was Daniel's person."
"That's what she told me."
Victor leaned forward.
"Then why was she walking Lily toward him?"
Malcolm's face changed.
"She wasn't supposed to be."
The room fell silent.
Victor opened Amelia's financial photographs on a monitor and turned it toward him.
"Do you recognize these?"
Malcolm went pale.
It was subtle, but not subtle enough.
"Where did you get them?"
"Answer me."
Malcolm removed his glasses.
"Amelia brought similar documents to me five days before she died."
Victor stood so quickly his chair rolled backward.
"You knew?"
"I knew she suspected embezzlement. I did not know she feared for her life until later."
"Later?"
Malcolm looked at him.
"The night before the crash, she called me. She said she had discovered the money trail led beyond Daniel."
Victor's throat tightened.
"To whom?"
"She refused to say over the phone."
Victor slammed one palm onto the desk.
"You let me bury her without telling me any of this?"
"Your father asked me not to inflame speculation without proof."
Victor stopped.
The sentence entered the room like smoke.
"My father knew Amelia called you?"
Malcolm nodded slowly.
Victor turned toward the window.
Thomas Morgan had built the family company from two construction crews and a borrowed pickup truck. He was difficult, proud, controlling, and sometimes cruel.
But he adored Lily.
Victor had never allowed himself to imagine his father anywhere near Amelia's death.
Malcolm pushed the leather folder toward him.
"Before you accuse Thomas, read this."
Inside was a handwritten note from Amelia.
Victor recognized her slanted lettering immediately.
There were only six words.
IF I DIE, ASK WHO BENEFITS.
Below it, she had drawn three initials.
D.M.
M.R.
May you like
And one Victor did not recognize.
E.S.
