Chapter 11 - Selina Disappears
Selina was not kidnapped.
She had left voluntarily.
But without telling Flynn.
Olivia was safe at daycare until Flynn arrived.
Police located Selina’s car at airport parking.
Her attorney knew nothing.
Her aunt knew nothing.
Mabel felt an uncomfortable fear.
Not because she trusted Selina.
Because Olivia deserved her mother.
Then Selina emailed Flynn.
I need two days.
Olivia is safer with you.
Do not let Cassandra near her.
Flynn immediately contacted his attorney and police.
No dramatic chase.
Then a second email went to Mabel.
Rebecca left something Cassandra has been looking for.
I found it.
If I bring it to Whitmore, she'll bury it.
Mabel forwarded it to Phoebe.
Two days later, Selina returned.
She had gone to Nevada to retrieve a safe-deposit box Rebecca maintained under old corporate records.
Why secrecy?
Selina feared Cassandra had access to her communications.
Paranoid?
Not entirely.
Cassandra had previously paid a private-security consultant to monitor internal company email.
Legal for corporate accounts.
Not Selina’s personal devices.
No evidence of hacking.
Selina had overreacted.
She admitted it.
But the safe-deposit box existed.
Inside:
Rebecca’s original audit files.
And one cassette recording.
Charles.
Rebecca.
Harrison.
They argued about Whitmore finances.
Harrison admitted moving money between projects without required disclosure.
Rebecca threatened resignation.
Charles demanded correction.
Then Harrison said:
“If this company survives, my children will own it.”
Rebecca replied:
“No. If it survives, everyone you owe will own part of it.”
That sentence changed everything.
Attached schedule listed early employee participation promises.
Dozens.
Some honored.
Some not.
Potential liability:
Huge.
Maybe $40 million.
Cassandra said company could not survive.
Marcus refused panic.
Independent forensic accounting began.
Many claims had expired legally.
But moral and contractual questions remained.
Then one name appeared repeatedly.
Samuel Bell.
Marcus’s father.
Marcus stared.
His father had been promised 2%.
Never received.
Could Marcus personally benefit from investigation he oversaw?
Conflict.
He immediately stepped aside.
Exactly what everyone else should have done years ago.
Independent examiner appointed.
Mabel respected him more.
Then Marcus told her:
“My father complained until the day he died.”
“Did you know?”
“I thought he was exaggerating.”
That hurt.
A child had dismissed a parent’s grievance.
Another family pattern.
Then investigation found Samuel Bell’s 2% promise had been replaced by a cash bonus he accepted knowingly.
No hidden fortune.
Marcus’s father had later regretted deal.
Regret had become a story of theft.
But other employees had valid unpaid rights.
Total:
$9.6 million.
Manageable.
They paid through structured settlement.
Then Rebecca’s tape contained one final section.
Charles and Harrison left the room.
Rebecca remained.
Someone else entered.
Female voice.
Mabel recognized it instantly.
Her mother.
Diana Hale.
Mabel had been told Diana never involved herself in business.
On recording Diana said:
“Charles cannot know I gave you this.”
Paper rustled.
Rebecca:
“What is it?”
Diana:
“Proof Harrison has been paying someone through the maternity foundation.”
Mabel froze.
Maternity foundation?
Rebecca asked:
“Who?”
Diana answered a name.
The recording distorted.
Then:
“If Flynn ever finds out, it will destroy him.”
Mabel looked at Flynn.
He was listening too.
“What would destroy you?”
Flynn looked genuinely terrified.
“I don't know.”
May you like
Then Phoebe said quietly:
“I do.”
