Chapter 7 - VIVIAN
Vivian did not deny being in the car.
She denied murder.
That mattered.
At seventy-three, she entered the Cain boardroom carrying a cane and contempt.
“Patrick was alive when I left him.”
Wesley stared at his aunt.
“Where?”
“Pier Nine.”
“Why?”
“He asked to meet.”
“With Charles Vale?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Patrick wanted leverage.”
Cora sat with her own lawyer.
Not as spectator.
This was her father.
Vivian looked at her.
“You have Marianne’s eyes.”
Cora did not thank her.
“What happened?”
Patrick confronted Vale with evidence.
Vale admitted moving money through Helena Cain estate entities.
But said someone above him ordered it.
Who?
Vivian.
Silence.
Wesley’s face hardened.
“You stole thirty-one million dollars.”
Vivian laughed.
“No.”
She had ordered funds moved.
But not for herself.
Why?
Wesley’s father, Thomas Cain, had hidden massive losses in Cain Freight during a shipping downturn.
If revealed, banks might seize assets.
Thousands lose jobs.
Vivian and Vale created secret transfers from estate entities to stabilize company.
Not personal theft initially.
Then the scheme continued after crisis.
Vale began skimming.
Thaddius helped with shells.
Others joined.
Fraud mutated.
Patrick discovered entire structure.
He wanted disclosure.
Vivian begged him to wait until company refinanced.
He refused.
“Did you threaten him?”
“Yes.”
Honest.
“Did Vale?”
“Yes.”
“Did you follow him?”
“Yes.”
Then:
“Did you cause the crash?”
“No.”
What happened after meeting?
Patrick left.
Vale followed.
Vivian went home.
How know?
Driver logs corroborated part.
Then highway camera archive no longer existed.
Old.
But insurance files showed Patrick’s car was struck before leaving road.
Vehicle paint:
Black luxury sedan.
Vale drove a black Mercedes.
Possible.
Then Vivian whispered:
“I suspected Charles.”
“Why didn’t you report?”
“Because I had committed crimes with him.”
There.
Self-protection.
Again.
Then she looked at Wesley.
“Your father knew.”
Wesley stopped.
“What?”
Thomas Cain knew about secret stabilization transfers.
Not skimming?
Maybe later.
He discovered after Patrick died.
Instead of exposing, he forced Vale out quietly.
Paid restitution into company accounts.
But never told Cora.
Why?
He could not locate her?
No.
Thaddius had her.
He could.
He chose not.
Because admitting Patrick was right would expose Cain fraud.
Wesley’s father protected empire too.
Wesley looked devastated.
Then Vivian handed over a sealed letter Thomas wrote before his death.
To Wesley.
Never delivered.
Why had she kept it?
Fear.
Inside:
If Patrick Donnelly’s daughter ever appears, Cain owes her more than money.
Wesley closed his eyes.
Then:
I let a child grow up believing her father abandoned her because the truth embarrassed our family.
Cora felt tears rise.
Thomas knew.
And did nothing.
Then final line:
Table Six.
Find what Patrick left there.
Wesley looked up.
They had searched beneath table six.
Found nothing.
Maybe wrong level.
Maybe actual table.
Il Farro’s old wood tables had been replaced years ago.
Except one.
Papa G had preserved table six because it came with building.
Original.
May you like
Cora had served Wesley at Patrick Donnelly’s actual table for four months.
And nobody had checked inside it.
