Chapter 5 - The Twenty-Five Million Dollar Policy
Arthur died naturally.
Claire forced herself to remember that.
Pancreatic cancer.
Diagnosed late.
Hospital records.
Hospice.
No mystery.
No suspicious death.
The insurance policy was financial, not murderous.
Still disturbing.
Why route $25 million through Northstar?
Rebecca found the answer.
Arthur created Northstar as a private acquisition vehicle.
Its intended purpose was to buy back Hale Manufacturing shares held by outside investors after Arthur’s death.
The insurance proceeds would fund the purchase.
Smart estate planning.
Until someone hijacked the company.
Then Arthur canceled the beneficiary change.
Or thought he did.
The policy ultimately paid the foundation.
So no missing $25 million.
Good.
But the $6.4 million remained missing.
Then Claire returned to her apartment.
Someone had been inside.
Nothing obviously stolen.
Laptop still there.
Television.
Jewelry.
But Grandpa’s letters were gone.
Every birthday card.
Every handwritten note.
Why steal sentimental correspondence?
Because Arthur’s handwriting mattered.
Forged instructions?
Claire called police.
Then Robert arrived.
She almost shut the door.
“Five minutes.”
“You threw me out this morning.”
“I know.”
“Mom watched.”
“I know.”
“Madison laughed.”
His face tightened.
“I know.”
“And now you want five minutes?”
“Yes.”
Claire let him stand in the hallway.
Not inside.
Robert looked older than sixty-one.
“I didn't throw you out because you lost your job.”
“I figured that out.”
“I did it because Diane demanded you be out of the house before Madison’s announcement.”
“Why?”
“Because your mother was afraid you'd recognize Ethan.”
Claire frowned.
“I've met Ethan.”
“Not him.”
Robert meant Ethan’s father.
Jonathan Cole.
Scheduled to attend Christmas dinner later.
Jonathan was chairman of Meridian Private Credit.
The lender holding a large portion of Hale Manufacturing debt.
More importantly—
he had been Arthur’s financial adviser in 2018.
Northstar.
Claire felt cold.
“Madison is dating the son of the man connected to Northstar?”
“Yes.”
“Does she know?”
“I don't think so.”
“Why throw me out?”
Robert looked ashamed.
“Because you met Jonathan before.”
“When?”
“You were twenty-one.”
Claire remembered nothing.
Robert explained.
The Christmas after Northstar opened, Claire came into Arthur’s office unexpectedly.
Jonathan was there.
They argued.
Claire asked what was happening.
Arthur told her nothing.
She forgot.
Jonathan apparently did not.
Then Robert revealed the larger problem.
Meridian now held $31 million of Hale debt.
If Hale defaulted, Meridian could seize collateral.
Factories.
Patents.
Land.
Madison marrying Ethan could appear to unite the families.
But Robert believed Jonathan was encouraging the relationship for leverage.
Claire asked:
“Why does Mom want it?”
“Because Diane thinks Ethan will save us.”
“Will he?”
“No.”
“Then tell her.”
“I tried.”
“Why doesn't she believe you?”
Robert looked at the floor.
“Because your mother thinks I caused the debt.”
“Did you?”
“Some.”
At least he admitted it.
Robert made bad expansion decisions.
But nearly half the debt came from guarantees he claimed not to have signed.
Forgery again.
Claire’s head hurt.
“Who?”
“I don't know.”
Then:
“Arthur knew.”
Of course.
“What did Grandpa tell you?”
“That one of his grandchildren would eventually have to choose whether Hale Manufacturing deserved to survive.”
Claire frowned.
“One of?”
Robert looked at her.
“He didn't originally choose you.”
There it was.
“Who did he choose?”
“Madison.”
May you like
Claire stared.
The cedar box had originally been intended for her sister.
