Chapter 11: The Man Who Was Supposed to Be Dead
Eleanor stared at Margaret.
"That's impossible.""
Margaret shook her head.
"I saw him myself.""
Richard leaned forward.
"Who are we talking about?""
Margaret took the photograph album and turned to another page.
It showed a younger man standing beside William Hale.
His dark hair was neatly combed, and he wore a navy suit.
Eleanor recognized him immediately.
"Thomas?""
I looked between them.
"Who is Thomas?""
Eleanor's voice trembled.
"My husband's younger brother.""
She sat down.
"Thomas Hale disappeared twelve years ago after a boating accident. The authorities recovered his boat, but his body was never found.""
Richard frowned.
"I remember the case. The family eventually declared him legally deceased.""
Margaret nodded.
"That's what everyone was told.""
Eleanor looked at her.
"Are you saying Thomas is alive?""
"I am.""
I felt the room become strangely quiet.
"Why would he stay hidden?""
Margaret looked toward the envelope.
"Because Thomas discovered the original financial scheme. He believed Robert Cross and Marcus were working together to steal money from the company.""
Eleanor covered her mouth.
"Why didn't he come to me?""
"Because he believed someone inside the family was reporting his movements.""
Richard examined the documents.
"Do you have evidence that he's alive?""
Margaret reached into her handbag.
She removed a folded photograph.
It showed an older man standing outside a small building.
His hair was almost entirely gray, and he wore glasses.
But his face was unmistakable.
Eleanor began crying.
"That's Thomas.""
The photograph had been taken only four months earlier.
On the back was an address in North Carolina.
Richard immediately photographed it.
"We need to verify this before making any assumptions.""
Margaret nodded.
"He contacted me two weeks ago.""
Eleanor looked up sharply.
"Two weeks ago?""
"Yes. He said someone had begun moving money again. He asked me to preserve William's original documents.""
"Why didn't you tell me?""
Margaret's eyes filled with tears.
"Because I was afraid.""
"Of whom?""
Margaret looked at me.
"Marcus.""
The room fell silent.
She explained that Marcus had contacted her several times during the previous six months, demanding access to the old archive.
At first, she refused.
Then he showed her a series of messages.
They appeared to come from Thomas.
The messages claimed that Thomas was seriously ill and needed money to pay for treatment.
Margaret believed them.
She had transferred money through a private account, thinking she was helping the missing family member.
But eventually, she discovered the messages had been fabricated.
The account belonged to a company connected to Vivian.
"I realized I'd been manipulated," Margaret whispered.
"But by then, Marcus had already obtained copies of several documents.""
Eleanor looked devastated.
"You should have come to me.""
"I know.""
"Twenty-three years, Margaret.""
"I know.""
Eleanor turned away.
For a moment, I thought she might dismiss Margaret immediately.
Instead, she looked at Richard.
"Can the documents establish who controlled those accounts?""
"Possibly. We need the original banking records.""
Margaret reached into the envelope again.
"There is a flash drive.""
She placed it on the desk.
"Thomas gave me this before he disappeared from public view.""
Richard picked it up carefully.
"What's on it?""
"Copies of the original transactions, correspondence, and a recording.""
Eleanor looked at her.
"A recording of whom?""
Margaret swallowed.
"Marcus and Robert Cross.""
Richard immediately contacted the forensic technology specialist assisting with the investigation.
We returned to Eleanor's residence shortly before midnight.
I was exhausted, but I couldn't stop thinking about Thomas.
If he was alive, he might be the only person who knew how the original scheme began.
At 8:15 the following morning, Richard called.
The flash drive had been examined.
The files appeared authentic, and several documents matched the original company records.
Most importantly, the recording contained a conversation between Marcus and Robert Cross.
We listened in Richard's office.
The audio was grainy, but the voices were recognizable.
Robert spoke first.
"Your grandfather is getting suspicious.""
Marcus answered.
"He won't be around forever.""
Robert laughed.
"And the trust?""
Marcus replied.
"I'll control it when the time comes.""
"What about the child?""
There was a pause.
Then Marcus said something that made my blood run cold.
"If it's a boy, the family will accept him immediately. If it's a girl, I'll have to make other arrangements.""
I felt Eleanor's hand tighten around mine.
Robert asked, "And Natalie?""
Marcus laughed.
"She believes whatever I tell her.""
The recording continued.
They discussed transferring assets through private companies, using false invoices, and eventually removing William's chosen trustees.
Then Robert asked a question.
"What happens if Thomas comes back?""
Marcus's voice became colder.
"He won't.""
Robert lowered his voice.
"Are you sure?""
Marcus answered.
"Nobody is going to find him.""
The recording ended.
I couldn't speak.
Eleanor looked as though she might collapse.
"That is my son.""
Richard closed the laptop.
"We need to provide this to the investigators.""
Eleanor nodded.
"Immediately.""
Then Richard's phone rang.
He listened for several seconds.
His expression changed.
"What do you mean he contacted you?""
He stood.
"Is he willing to speak?""
A pause.
"Where?""
Richard looked at Eleanor.
"Thomas Hale has contacted the legal team.""
Eleanor grabbed the edge of the desk.
"He's alive?""
Richard nodded.
"He wants to meet with the family.""
I started crying.
After twelve years of believing someone was dead, Eleanor was about to see her husband's brother again.
But Richard wasn't finished.
"There's one condition.""
Eleanor looked at him.
"What condition?""
"Thomas will only meet if Natalie is present.""
I frowned.
"Me?""
Richard nodded.
"He specifically asked for the woman carrying the next Hale child.""
Eleanor looked at me.
May you like
Then she asked the question that none of us could answer.
"Why would Thomas insist on meeting Natalie before he speaks to the rest of us?""
