Chapter 6 - THE FILE BURIED IN THE PENTHOUSE
Lucas had spent his life believing that his father kept secrets to protect the family.
Now he wondered how many people had suffered because of those secrets.
He ordered Gabriel to retrieve every available record connected to Michael Cooper.
Old payroll files.
Audit reports.
Legal correspondence.
Security records.
Three days later, Gabriel arrived with a box.
Inside were documents from a storage facility in Queens.
Lucas opened the first folder.
Michael Cooper had discovered irregular payments involving several companies connected to Richard Bellamy.
The transfers were disguised as consulting fees.
But the amounts were enormous.
Millions of dollars.
Lucas stared.
“Bellamy.”
Gabriel nodded.
“Yes.”
“Vanessa's father.”
“Yes.”
The records suggested Michael had been preparing to report the suspicious transfers.
Then he died.
Lucas found a letter addressed to Antonio Ravalini.
It was dated two days before Michael's death.
Mr. Ravalini, I cannot ignore these discrepancies. If the company refuses to investigate, I will report them to the appropriate authorities.
Lucas read the sentence twice.
Then looked at Gabriel.
“Did my father know?”
Gabriel hesitated.
“He received the letter.”
Lucas closed his eyes.
That evening, Hannah found Lucas in the library.
He looked exhausted.
She stopped.
“Are you okay?”
He looked up.
“No.”
Hannah approached.
“What happened?”
Lucas placed the letter on the desk.
She read it.
Her hands began shaking.
“That's my father's handwriting.”
Lucas nodded.
She continued reading.
Then sat down.
“He tried to report them.”
“Yes.”
Her eyes filled.
“And he died two days later.”
Lucas looked down.
“Yes.”
Hannah began crying.
For seventeen years, she had lived with unanswered questions.
Now the answers were beginning to appear.
And they were worse than she imagined.
Lucas spoke quietly.
“Hannah, I'm sorry.”
She looked at him.
“Did your father kill mine?”
Lucas swallowed.
“I don't know.”
Hannah stood.
“Then find out.”
Lucas nodded.
“I will.”
She turned toward the door.
Then stopped.
“And Lucas?”
He looked up.
“If you discover your family was responsible, don't hide it.”
May you like
Lucas met her eyes.
“I won't.”
