Chapter 6 - Caleb’s Story
Caleb did not run.
That almost made Michael trust him.
Almost.
He sat with both hands flat on the conference table while everyone else stared.
“The company is mine,” he said.
Diane smiled slightly.
Michael noticed.
“Why did you receive eleven million dollars?”
“Because your mother told me it was an acquisition vehicle.”
“You never asked what it was acquiring?”
“I did.” Caleb looked at Diane. “She lied.”
Diane laughed. “How convenient.”
Caleb turned on her. “You said we were buying distressed land parcels before public announcements.”
Michael’s stomach turned. “Insider transactions?”
“No. That’s what I thought she was doing. Which was bad enough.”
Emma stared at him. “And you still signed?”
Caleb looked ashamed. “Yes.”
The auditors requested access to his records.
He handed over his phone and laptop without resistance.
By evening, one fact became clear.
The shell company had received eleven million.
Ten million nine hundred and forty thousand had left it within forty-eight hours.
The destination was a private family office in Zurich.
The beneficial owner was hidden.
“Diane,” Michael said.
Caleb shook his head. “Not directly.”
“What do you mean?”
“She always used someone between herself and the money.”
“Who?”
Caleb hesitated.
“Your uncle Stephen.”
Michael stared at him.
Stephen Bennett had been dead for eighteen months.
Emma sat forward. “Then who controls his accounts?”
Caleb looked at Diane.
Diane stood.
“This meeting is over.”
“No,” Michael said. “Sit down.”
“You do not give me orders.”
“I’m the trustee for Lily now.”
“Not yet.”
Rachel smiled without warmth. “Actually, yes.”
Diane’s phone buzzed.
She glanced at the screen.
For the first time all day, genuine alarm crossed her face.
She turned toward the door.
Detective Morales entered with two financial-crimes investigators.
“Diane Bennett, we have a warrant for records at your residence and Bennett Group offices.”
Diane’s shoulders squared.
“You people have no idea who you’re dealing with.”
Morales held out a second paper.
“And we have a warrant to search the safe-deposit box registered to Stephen Bennett.”
Caleb whispered, “Oh, God.”
Michael looked at him.
“What?”
May you like
Caleb’s face had gone white.
“Stephen told me once that if anything happened to him, there was one box Diane could never be allowed to open.”
