Chapter 9: The Forty-Two Million Dollar Lie
Elizabeth sat in the back of an airport security vehicle, holding her children's hands.
The photograph lay on her lap.
She had read the message so many times that the words were beginning to blur.
Their mother is the key.
“What does that mean?”” she asked.
Marcus stood beside the open door.
“We're going to find out.””
“Why would they need me?””
Thomas sat across from her.
“Because the trust was established under your identity.””
Elizabeth turned toward him.
“You knew about the trust.””
“I knew it existed.””
“But you told me it was for the children.””
“It was.””
“Then why am I the administrator?””
Thomas looked down.
“Because I couldn't create it without you.””
Elizabeth frowned.
“What?””
“Before I deployed, I placed the trust under your legal identity. I wanted the children protected if something happened to me.””
“You never told me.””
“I thought it would be safer.””
Elizabeth shook her head.
“Every time you say that, I discover another lie.””
Thomas accepted the words without argument.
Rachel approached the vehicle.
“We need to leave. Airport security has confirmed that Bell was taken through a service exit.””
Marcus turned.
“Any description of the vehicle?””
“Black SUV. No plates.””
“Then we're running out of time.””
Rachel opened her tablet.
“I've traced the account mentioned in Bell's call. It's held at a private bank in Richmond. The account was opened fourteen years ago.””
“What's the balance?””
“Forty-two million, six hundred thousand dollars.””
Thomas frowned.
“That isn't the full amount.””
Rachel looked up.
“What do you mean?””
“The trust was originally funded with more than sixty million.””
“Where's the rest?””
“Harper transferred it into another account.””
Rachel examined the records.
“There's a second beneficiary.””
Marcus looked at the screen.
A name appeared.
*OLIVIA HARPER.*
“She's listed as a secondary beneficiary,” Rachel said.
Thomas nodded.
“That's why they tried to erase her identity.””
Marcus looked toward the children.
“Then we need to find her.””
Rachel received another call.
She answered.
“Go ahead.””
A hospital employee spoke.
“Ms. Morgan, we have a patient asking for you. She says her name is Olivia Harper.””
Rachel closed her eyes.
“Is she safe?””
“She has security officers outside her room.””
“Tell her we're coming.””
The call ended.
Marcus turned to Daniel.
“Prepare transportation.””
Elizabeth grabbed his arm.
“I'm coming.””
Marcus hesitated.
“You and the children need protection.””
“Then protect us. But I'm not letting another person decide where my family goes.””
Marcus studied her.
Then he nodded.
“All right.””
They arrived at St. Mary's Medical Center forty minutes later.
Olivia Harper was sitting upright in a hospital bed.
She looked pale, with a bandage across her forehead.
When Rachel entered, Olivia immediately recognized her.
“You found the children?””
Rachel nodded.
“They're safe.””
Olivia closed her eyes.
“Thank God.””
Marcus stepped forward.
“Captain Harper?””
Olivia looked at him.
“Colonel Hale.””
“You know me?””
“I've read your file.””
Marcus frowned.
“Why?””
“Because my father told me you were responsible for Thomas's death.””
Marcus's expression hardened.
“And you believed him?””
“Not anymore.””
Olivia reached toward the bedside table.
She picked up a small photograph.
It showed her standing beside Thomas.
“Four years ago, I discovered that my father was using military procurement contracts to move money into private accounts. He had help from several senior officers.””
“Did you confront him?””
“Yes.””
“What happened?””
“He told me I was confused. Then he arranged for me to be transferred to a restricted medical facility.””
“Why?””
“Because I had copies of the financial records.””
Rachel leaned forward.
“Where are they?””
Olivia looked at Elizabeth.
“Your husband gave me the original copies.””
Thomas stepped closer.
“I did?””
Olivia nodded.
“You asked me to keep them safe.””
Thomas frowned.
“I thought you were dead.””
“I was officially dead.””
Elizabeth stared at her.
“Everyone in this story seems to have died without actually dying.””
Olivia gave a weak smile.
“That's how my father operated.””
She reached beneath her pillow and removed a small key.
“This opens the safe deposit box.””
Rachel took it.
“Where is the box?””
“First National Bank in Richmond.””
Marcus looked at Thomas.
“That's the same bank your mother used.””
Olivia nodded.
“Because your mother and my mother knew each other.””
Thomas stared.
“What?””
Olivia took a breath.
“Your mother wasn't just Vanessa's adoptive mother. She was my father's first wife.””
The room went silent.
Thomas slowly sat down.
“That's impossible.””
Olivia shook her head.
“Your mother discovered that Harper had a second family. She tried to expose him. After she died, he arranged for Vanessa to be adopted into your family.””
Elizabeth looked horrified.
“Why would he do that?””
“To keep her close to the records.””
Thomas stared at the floor.
“Vanessa knew?””
Olivia nodded.
“She knew who her biological father was. She was placed in your family to gain access to the trust.””
Marcus felt the pieces falling into place.
“So the abandonment at the airport wasn't a mistake.””
Olivia shook her head.
“No. Vanessa intended to transfer the children to a private aircraft. Their mother was supposed to be declared legally deceased, and the children would be moved into a restricted guardianship arrangement.””
Elizabeth whispered:
“She wanted to take my children forever.””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
Olivia looked at her.
“Because the trust can't be transferred without your signature.””
Elizabeth's face changed.
“But if I was dead?””
“Then Vanessa would become the administrator.””
Marcus frowned.
“There's still one problem. Why didn't they simply forge Elizabeth's signature?””
Olivia looked at him.
“Because the trust contains a biometric verification system.””
Rachel nodded.
“That explains the repeated attempts to obtain Elizabeth's medical records.””
Thomas leaned forward.
“They needed her fingerprints.””
“And her voice,” Olivia added.
Elizabeth felt sick.
“What?””
“Your original enrollment included a recorded statement. They needed both the biometric confirmation and your recorded consent to release the funds.””
Rachel looked at Marcus.
“Then the airport abandonment was designed to separate Elizabeth from the children and force her into signing.””
Marcus shook his head.
“They threatened her children to get her cooperation.””
Olivia nodded.
“Exactly.””
A hospital nurse entered.
“I'm sorry, but we need to move the patient. There's been an incident downstairs.””
Marcus stood.
“What incident?””
The nurse looked frightened.
“Someone entered the building using a military identification card.””
Daniel's radio crackled.
“Colonel, we have a security breach.””
Marcus took the radio.
“Location?””
“Third-floor corridor.””
“Who?””
“General Whitmore.””
Marcus stared toward the door.
“Whitmore is supposed to be in custody.””
Daniel's voice lowered.
“He escaped.””
Rachel grabbed the evidence folder.
“Get Olivia out of here.””
A loud crash sounded outside.
Then the hospital lights went out.
Someone screamed.
Marcus pulled Elizabeth and the children behind the bed.
“Stay down!””
Emergency lights flickered on.
The door handle began turning.
Thomas moved in front of his family.
“Whatever happens, don't let them take the children.””
The door opened.
A woman stood in the doorway.
Vanessa.
She held a small black pistol.
Her eyes went straight to Elizabeth.
“Give me the key.””
Elizabeth stood frozen.
“What key?””
Vanessa raised the weapon.
“The one Olivia gave you.””
Rachel moved toward her.
“Put the weapon down!””
Vanessa laughed.
“You're all still pretending you don't understand.””
Marcus stepped between her and the family.
“Vanessa, this ends now.””
She looked at him.
“No, Colonel. It ends when I get what belongs to me.””
Then she pointed the gun at Elizabeth.
“Give me the key, or your children will finally learn what happened to their real mother.””
Elizabeth went pale.
“What did you just say?””
Vanessa smiled.
“Ask Thomas.””
Everyone turned toward him.
Thomas's face had lost all color.
Vanessa laughed again.
“Go ahead, brother. Tell them why Elizabeth's name was never supposed to appear on that trust.””
Thomas stared at his wife.
May you like
Then he whispered:
“Elizabeth isn't the person we think she is.””
