Chapter 7 - Behind the Portrait

Daniel tore at the wood paneling until Torres found the hidden latch.

The wall opened inward.

Martin Vale fell out.

His shirt was soaked with blood from a cut above his ear. His wrists had been tied with lamp cord.

"She's gone," he gasped.

Daniel grabbed him by the collar. "Where is my mother?"

"I don't know."

"You helped her drug Lily."

Martin closed his eyes. "Yes."

Rachel made a sound like she had been slapped.

Daniel's fist tightened, but Torres pulled him back.

"Talk," she ordered Martin.

He did.

Celeste had discovered the Lily Trust months before William died. She panicked. The company was already unstable because of her secret loans. If Lily became controlling owner, independent trustees would audit everything.

"Your mother said she only wanted the baby sleepy," Martin told Daniel. "She said Rachel was too protective and needed to look careless."

"So you drugged my daughter."

"I gave Celeste the bottle once. I swear. Then I refused."

Rachel's voice shook. "And Tuesday night?"

Martin looked at the floor. "I took the bottle away from her. The video doesn't show that part."

"Convenient."

"I know what it looks like."

Torres asked, "Who tied you up?"

"Celeste. She came back after the gala. She wanted the documents behind the portrait. I tried to stop her."

Daniel searched the hidden space. Behind a loose brick he found a flash drive and a small black ledger.

The ledger listed transfers between companies, dates, amounts, initials.

One set appeared over and over.

C.A.

Celeste Ashbourne.

Another set did too.

H.C.

Everyone looked at Henry Cole.

The family attorney took one step backward.

"That's not me."

Daniel stared at him. "Those are your initials."

"So are half a dozen people in this state."

Torres held out her hand. "Give me your phone."

Henry's expression changed.

He ran.

He made it three steps before an officer caught him.

As they forced him against the wall, his phone fell from his pocket.

The screen lit up with an incoming call.

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The caller ID said MOM.

But Henry Cole's mother had been dead for nine years.