Chapter 3 - THE MAN WHO SMILED AT THE ALTAR
Richard Fletcher had been Michael's rival for almost fifteen years.
Their disagreements began over construction contracts and waterfront property.
Over time, those disagreements spread into darker corners of Chicago's criminal economy.
Michael had never liked Richard.
But he had respected the man's ability to negotiate.
Now he remembered Richard standing at the wedding, offering a respectful bow while barely concealing a smile.
It hadn't been amusement.
It had been satisfaction.
Michael called his younger brother, Daniel Bennett.
Daniel handled much of the legitimate investment business and had become increasingly involved in family matters after Michael's injury.
“Come to the estate.”
“Michael, I heard about Claire. Are you all right?”
“No.”
The honesty surprised them both.
“I need you here.”
Daniel arrived forty minutes later.
When Michael told him what Lily had witnessed, his expression changed.
“Victor?”
“Yes.”
“That doesn't make sense.”
“Explain why.”
“Because Victor was with me last night arranging transportation for the wedding.”
Michael frowned.
“What transportation?”
“An additional vehicle. He said Claire requested it.”
Claire had never mentioned such a request.
Daniel looked increasingly uncomfortable.
Then Michael showed him the video.
Claire's warning played.
Victor.
Richard Fletcher.
The ambush.
Daniel turned pale.
“Where did she get that information?”
Michael studied him.
“You tell me.”
Daniel looked away.
That was enough to make Michael's stomach tighten.
“What aren't you telling me?”
His brother took a long breath.
“Six weeks ago, Claire asked me for access to the old Bennett Foundation accounts.”
“Why?”
“She said some transactions didn't make sense.”
The Bennett Foundation was one of the family's most public charitable operations.
It financed medical rehabilitation, housing support, and assistance for families affected by workplace injuries.
Michael had created it after his own rehabilitation.
At least, that was how the public remembered it.
In truth, an earlier version of the foundation existed before the ambush.
His injury had only made the mission more personal.
“Did you give her access?”
“Yes.”
“And?”
“She found payments to a security contractor connected to Fletcher.”
Michael went still.
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Claire asked me not to.”
“Why would she do that?”
Daniel hesitated.
“Because she thought the information might implicate someone close to you.”
Michael looked toward the security monitors.
Victor.
Of course.
But Daniel wasn't finished.
“She also asked about Thomas Harper.”
Michael frowned.
“Grace's husband?”
Daniel nodded.
Thomas had worked as a financial controller for the foundation.
Eighteen months earlier, he died in a warehouse fire that investigators initially believed was accidental.
Grace had struggled to support Lily ever since.
Michael remembered offering to help with funeral expenses.
Grace had thanked him but refused anything beyond the employee benefits Thomas was owed.
“Why was Claire asking about Thomas?”
Daniel's expression became grim.
“Because he was the first person who noticed the suspicious payments.”
Michael's hands tightened.
“What happened to his report?”
“It disappeared after the fire.”
A horrible possibility began forming.
Thomas had discovered something involving the foundation.
Then he died.
Claire started investigating.
Now she had vanished on her wedding day.
Michael looked at his brother.
“Where are the original records?”
Daniel swallowed.
“I don't know.”
Then Walter appeared in the doorway.
For the first time in twenty-two years, Michael's butler looked genuinely frightened.
“Sir, there's something I should have told you after Thomas died.”
Michael turned.
Walter held a small envelope.
“Thomas came here the evening before the warehouse fire. He begged me to give you this personally.”
Michael stared at him.
“Why didn't you?”
Walter's eyes filled.
“Victor told me Thomas was trying to blackmail the foundation. I believed him.”
He handed over the envelope.
Inside was a handwritten note.
If I don't survive, ask Grace about the book I left for Lily. Everything starts with the night Michael Bennett was shot.
Michael slowly looked up.
May you like
The man who had died eighteen months earlier had apparently left evidence inside a children's book.
And Grace had been living in his house all this time.
