Chapter 5 - THE OLD DEATH CERTIFICATE
Julian backed away from his father.
“You told me Mom died in childbirth.”
“She did not die in childbirth,” Arthur said. “She died four months later.”
“Why did you lie?”
“Because Eleanor threatened to take you.”
Maya stared at him.
“You knew Eleanor was dangerous, and you married her anyway?”
Arthur’s shame was answer enough.
He crossed to the nightstand and opened a hidden drawer.
Inside was Clara Vale’s death certificate.
Cause of death: cardiac failure.
Maya pointed to the physician’s signature.
“Dr. Malcolm Reed. He was at the gala tonight.”
Julian remembered the silver-haired man seated three tables from the stage.
“He left during the blackout.”
Arthur’s voice dropped.
“Then Eleanor isn’t working alone.”
Maya searched the drawer and found a cassette tape wrapped in plastic.
Julian held it to the light.
The label read: IF ARTHUR DRINKS, PLAY THIS.
An old tape recorder sat beneath the bed.
Maya pressed play.
Static filled the room.
Then Clara’s voice emerged, weak and frightened.
“Arthur, Eleanor has been changing my medication. Dr. Reed knows. If anything happens to me, protect Julian. And never let Eleanor control Sterling Medical.”
The tape clicked off.
Julian looked sick.
Sterling Medical was the family’s largest company.
Eleanor had been demanding Arthur transfer his voting shares for months.
Arthur’s phone rang.
The caller ID showed ELEANOR.
He answered on speaker.
May you like
Her voice was calm.
“You have thirty minutes to sign the transfer papers,” she said. “Or Maya’s little brother dies first.”
