Chapter 5 - Jonathan’s Alibi Began Falling Apart
Jonathan answered Daniel’s call from his townhouse.
At least that was what he claimed.
“I left because your mother caused a scene,” he said.
“My daughter nearly died.”
“I heard afterward.”
“You were still in the building.”
Silence.
“Who told you that?”
Daniel looked at the security log.
Jonathan’s car had not exited the garage until twelve minutes after the fall.
“Come back.”
“I have attorneys for situations like this.”
Daniel’s voice went cold.
“You’re talking to your godson.”
“No. I’m talking to the controlling shareholder of a public company during a potential criminal investigation.”
That sentence ended whatever remained of the relationship.
Jonathan hung up.
Claire sat across from Daniel.
“He knows.”
“Yes.”
Michael paced.
“Knowing isn’t proof.”
Eleanor stared at the fireplace.
“Robert suspected him.”
Daniel turned.
“What?”
“Your father believed Jonathan had been moving money through Heritage Management.”
“And you waited until tonight?”
“Robert made me promise.”
Daniel slammed his palm against the desk.
“Dad is dead. Sophie almost died. Stop protecting promises that are destroying living people.”
Eleanor looked at him.
Shame crossed her face.
Then she opened Robert’s old desk.
Inside was a false panel.
Claire stared.
“You knew about this too?”
Eleanor removed a small recorder.
“Robert left this for you.”
Daniel pressed play.
His father’s voice filled the room.
Daniel, if you are hearing this, I failed to fix what I helped create.
Daniel closed his eyes.
Robert explained that Jonathan had helped manage Margaret’s assets after her disappearance.
Over time, Heritage Management became a private financial machine.
Robert discovered unexplained transfers.
When he confronted Jonathan, Jonathan threatened to expose the truth about Margaret.
“What truth?” Daniel whispered.
The recording continued.
Margaret did not steal from the family.
I let everyone believe she did.
Daniel stared at the recorder.
Claire covered her mouth.
Robert admitted that Jonathan had committed the original embezzlement.
Margaret discovered it.
Robert feared scandal would destroy Whitmore Holdings.
So he convinced Margaret to disappear temporarily while he “fixed” the evidence.
Jonathan used the opportunity to frame her completely.
By the time Robert understood, Margaret was gone.
Daniel felt physically sick.
His father had not invented the crime.
He had enabled the lie.
Robert’s voice broke on the recording.
I chose the company over my sister.
I have regretted it every day since.
The audio ended.
Nobody spoke.
Then Michael’s phone buzzed.
He read the message.
“What?”
Michael looked at Daniel.
“Jonathan just called an emergency board meeting for nine tomorrow morning.”
“Why?”
“To remove you as CEO.”
Daniel stared.
Michael continued.
“He says tonight proves the Whitmore family is unstable and that company control must be transferred temporarily.”
Claire looked at Sophie.
Jonathan had failed to gain control through the trust.
May you like
So now he was trying through the board.
And Daniel had less than nine hours to prove why.
