Chapter 4 - THE RECORDING
The recording was seventeen minutes long.
Baldric listened in Marcus's office.
Static.
Then voices.
His father's.
His mother's.
Caleb's.
The conversation was horrifying.
They discussed stolen money.
Fake accounts.
Insurance policies.
And finally Arianne.
His mother's voice came through clearly.
“Baldric must never discover the trust.”
His father's voice answered:
“He won't.”
“And if Arianne finds out?”
“Then Derek handles it.”
Baldric stopped breathing.
This recording had been made decades ago.
Yet they had been planning for the future.
Marcus paused the audio.
“There's more.”
Baldric nodded.
The recording resumed.
His mother spoke again.
“The girl is the key.”
His father asked:
“And the child?”
A pause.
“Gideon?”
“Yes.”
His mother's answer was chilling.
“If Arianne dies, Derek gets custody.”
Baldric slammed his fist onto the desk.
“They planned this before Gideon was even born.”
Marcus nodded.
“That's what it looks like.”
Baldric stood.
“Where is my mother now?”
“Private nursing facility.”
“Take me there.”
His mother was ninety-two.
She sat beside a window overlooking a garden.
When Baldric entered, she smiled.
“My son.”
He stood across from her.
“You tried to kill my daughter.”
Her smile disappeared.
“I don't know what you're talking about.”
He played the recording.
Her own voice filled the room.
She closed her eyes.
“Where did you get that?”
“From Caleb.”
She began trembling.
“You shouldn't have brought him back.”
“Why?”
“He'll destroy everything.”
Baldric stepped closer.
“It's already destroyed.”
She looked at him.
“You don't understand what your father built.”
“I understand enough.”
“No.”
Her voice became sharp.
“He built an empire.”
“And you helped him steal it.”
She shook her head.
“He built it for you.”
Baldric froze.
“What?”
“You were always his favorite.”
She began crying.
“He believed you were weak because you cared about people.”
Baldric stared at her.
“And Caleb?”
“Caleb wanted everything.”
“So you killed him.”
“I protected you.”
“You destroyed my family.”
She looked away.
Then she whispered:
“There was one thing your father never knew.”
“What?”
“Your grandfather left you the controlling interest in the company.”
Baldric froze.
“What?”
“Not your father.”
“Me?”
She nodded.
“You were the real owner.”
Baldric suddenly understood.
His modest life.
His retirement.
His hidden wealth.
Everything had been deliberate.
His mother had spent decades keeping him ignorant.
And now Derek had tried to steal an estate that legally belonged to Baldric all along.
Baldric turned toward the door.
“Where is the original trust?”
His mother smiled sadly.
“Where your grandfather told you never to look.”
“Where?”
May you like
She whispered:
“Under the old garage.”
