Chapter 10 - The Investor Who Had Been Hiding Everything
Arthur Pendleton had spent the entire investigation presenting himself as Richard Croft's potential victim.
A cautious investor.
A wealthy man trying to avoid a disastrous deal.
Someone who believed in protecting his money.
Now my father was telling me Arthur knew the identity of Blackbird's ultimate controller.
I turned toward him.
"Who owns it?"
Arthur looked exhausted.
"Khloe—"
"Don't."
He stopped.
I stepped closer.
"One answer. Who controls Blackbird?"
Arthur lowered his eyes.
"My family trust."
The room went silent.
I stared.
"What?"
He took a slow breath.
"Years ago, my former partner Charles Whitmore established a collection of investment vehicles using funds managed by our partnership."
My heart pounded.
"And?"
"Some of those vehicles were transferred into a trust my family controlled."
I shook my head.
"So you've been benefiting from Blackbird?"
Arthur looked ashamed.
"Without understanding the full source of the funds at first, yes."
I laughed bitterly.
"You hired me to investigate your own money."
He nodded.
"Because when I discovered the discrepancies, I couldn't trust the people already managing those accounts."
"Then why not tell me?"
"I was afraid the information would compromise the investigation."
I stared at him.
"Or your reputation?"
Arthur didn't answer.
That was answer enough.
For eighteen months, I'd treated his confidence as proof of integrity.
Now I was realizing he'd been using me to uncover crimes that might implicate his own family.
I stepped backward.
"You should've told me."
"Yes."
"You should've disclosed every connection."
"Yes."
I swallowed.
"And you should've let me decide whether I wanted the case."
His voice broke.
"You're right."
For the first time, Arthur Pendleton looked like a man who understood money couldn't purchase forgiveness.
I turned toward Jonathan.
"Croll needs independent counsel. Every relevant record must be preserved, and I want a complete review of the conflicts of interest."
Jonathan nodded.
"Agreed."
Then Arthur said something unexpected.
"I'll cooperate fully."
I looked back.
He continued.
"I won't ask you to protect me from the consequences."
For a moment, I believed he meant it.
Then his phone rang.
The caller was Charles Whitmore's attorney.
Arthur answered.
His expression changed.
"What?"
He listened carefully.
Then lowered the phone.
"Khloe, there's something you need to see."
My stomach tightened.
"What now?"
"Charles Whitmore left a sealed letter."
I frowned.
"Charles died five years ago."
Arthur nodded.
"The letter was scheduled to be released if certain Blackbird accounts were investigated."
A messenger arrived shortly afterward.
Inside the envelope was a handwritten confession.
Charles admitted creating shell companies used to conceal pension theft.
He named Richard Croft as a principal participant.
He also identified the person who ordered the destruction of the original accounting records.
I stared at the name.
My heart stopped.
JONATHAN PIERCE.
My boss.
The man who hired me.
May you like
The man who claimed to be helping expose Blackbird.
And the man standing directly behind me.
