Chapter 6 - THE BIRTHDAY SHE WAS NEVER SUPPOSED TO REACH
Clare Bennett Duca was four days away from turning thirty.
And according to the photograph recovered from Victoria's office, someone had been planning around that birthday for years.
She sat across from Rebecca Sloan in a quiet Manhattan conference room.
"What happens when I turn thirty?" Clare asked.
Rebecca looked troubled.
"Possibly nothing. But there's a trust provision we need to examine."
Clare's stomach tightened.
"What provision?"
Rebecca opened a thick folder.
"The Bennett family retained a minority interest in several investment companies after your father's death."
"I know."
"But your father established a separate inheritance arrangement for you."
Clare frowned.
"Why didn't Ethan tell me?"
"The documents were administered through an independent trustee."
Rebecca turned the page.
"Your father specified that you would receive full control at age thirty."
Clare stared.
"Full control of what?"
Rebecca hesitated.
"Approximately twenty-eight percent of a holding company connected to Duca Holdings."
Clare felt the floor tilt.
"My father owned part of Adrienne's company?"
Rebecca nodded.
"The interest was acquired years before you married."
Clare tried to process the words.
For three years, she'd believed she was simply the outsider who married into the Duca dynasty.
Now she was discovering her father had owned part of its financial empire.
"How much is the stake worth?"
Rebecca studied the latest valuation.
"Potentially more than ninety million dollars."
Clare stared.
Ninety million.
Four million dollars in missing diamonds suddenly seemed insignificant.
Victoria hadn't framed her because she wanted jewelry.
She'd framed her because Clare was about to gain access to corporate records and voting rights.
Rights that could expose years of fraud.
Clare closed her eyes.
"My father knew."
Rebecca nodded.
"He appears to have structured the inheritance to protect you until adulthood."
"Then why did Victoria wait?"
"Because the shares were restricted until your thirtieth birthday."
Clare looked toward the window.
Rain streaked the glass.
Her father's voice echoed in her memory.
Never let anyone convince you that your questions are inconvenient.
He had told her that when she was seventeen.
She hadn't understood how important those words would become.
Her phone vibrated.
Adrienne.
Again.
She ignored it.
Then a message appeared.
Clare, I know about the inheritance. I didn't know before today. Please let me explain.
She stared at the screen.
Another message followed.
Victoria has disappeared.
Clare looked up.
"Rebecca."
"What?"
"Adrienne says Victoria is missing."
Rebecca's expression hardened.
"Then we should notify Detective Mitchell."
Clare forwarded the message.
Minutes later, Mitchell called.
"We're already investigating."
"Have you found her?"
"Not yet."
Clare swallowed.
"Do you think she's coming after me?"
"We're taking the threat seriously."
Then Mitchell added something unexpected.
"We recovered records showing Victoria arranged a private meeting for your birthday."
Clare's heart raced.
"With whom?"
"A trust administrator named Harold Pierce."
Clare went still.
That was the man who'd denied scheduling her vault meeting.
Mitchell continued.
"His appointment calendar includes a confidential entry for the night before your birthday."
"What does it say?"
A pause.
May you like
Then the detective answered:
BENNETT TRANSFER — FINAL AUTHORIZATION.
