Chapter 10 - The Phone Inside the Wall
Claire stared at vibrating phone while her own phone rang simultaneously.
Same caller.
Two devices.
One hidden in wall.
One in her hand.
Someone built relay system.
She answered.
“Enough.”
Voice said:
“Then stop asking who I am and ask why Nathan needed you to think someone was watching.”
Claire froze.
“Nathan planned this?”
“Part of it.”
The hidden phone contained scheduled audio triggers, including eerie basement sound.
Nathan had designed them.
Why frighten Claire?
Not revenge.
Not game.
He feared she would trust Eleanor too quickly.
He created a contingency if he vanished before disclosure.
Instructions sent through encrypted service when certain files accessed.
But current caller was live.
Someone had inherited system.
Who?
Nathan’s attorney?
Investigator?
Then caller said:
“Open folder marked C.”
Hidden phone had files.
C contained video recorded night Nathan disappeared.
Nathan in basement.
Martin Shaw beside him.
No attack.
No hostage.
Nathan placed steel case into hidden cabinet.
MARTIN:
“If Eleanor finds this before vote, she’ll destroy sale.”
NATHAN:
“Then Claire decides.”
Martin:
“She doesn't know anything.”
Nathan:
“That's why she can be independent.”
Claire felt betrayed.
Nathan had planned to place burden on her without consent.
Then video continued.
Nathan opened beneficial schedule.
Pointed to line.
Not Claire’s name.
A different one.
ELENA BLACKWOOD.
Eleanor gasped.
“My mother.”
Richard’s wife Elena had supposedly relinquished all business interest before her death ten years earlier.
Schedule said:
Independent veto trustee.
Meaning acquisition could not proceed without her consent.
But Elena was dead.
Successor?
Blank.
Then Nathan:
“Richard never filled successor because Elena wasn't dead when he wrote this.”
Eleanor stared.
Her mother had died ten years ago.
Confirmed hospital death.
So statement referred earlier document date, not fake death.
No resurrection.
Nathan continued:
“After Elena died, vacancy should have been filled by beneficiary election. It never was.”
Thus current board lacked valid veto trustee.
Sale potentially unauthorized.
Then Martin said:
“Eleanor knows.”
Claire turned.
Eleanor whispered:
“I knew the seat was vacant.”
“Why didn't you fill it?”
“Because employee trustees would choose someone I couldn't control.”
There.
Her wrongdoing.
Corporate control.
But not Nathan’s disappearance.
Then video ended with Nathan saying:
“I’m going to the board tomorrow.”
He never arrived.
Caller whispered:
“Now you know why Eleanor had motive.”
Claire asked:
“Did she hurt him?”
“No.”
“Then who did?”
Long silence.
“Nobody.”
Claire stopped.
“What?”
“Nathan disappeared because he discovered something about you.”
“What?”
“Not your money.”
“Then what?”
Caller answered:
“He discovered who hired Martin to forge Richard’s amendment.”
Claire’s throat tightened.
“Who?”
May you like
The answer:
“Your father.”
