Chapter 7: The Recording Thomas Tried to Bury
The name Frank Dorsey appeared in three different places in the original investigation.
Former Whitmore family driver.
Witness to the accident.
Unavailable for questioning.
The last entry was dated eleven years earlier.
After that, he had disappeared.
Michael Grant spent the following morning contacting former colleagues. Rebecca filed an emergency request to preserve all remaining evidence connected to the accident.
I stayed with Victoria.
Not because I trusted her.
Because I suspected she was the only person who could lead us to the truth.
At noon, she finally told us where her father kept the safe.
“His private residence,” she said.
“There's a study behind the library. The safe is hidden inside the wall.””
Rebecca frowned.
“Why are you telling us this now?””
Victoria stared at her hands.
“Because my father doesn't believe anyone can touch him.””
I looked at her.
“Why didn't you tell the police eleven years ago?””
She took a long breath.
“Because he showed me photographs.””
“What photographs?””
“My mother.””
I waited.
Victoria's eyes filled.
“My mother didn't die from an illness, as my father told everyone. She had been preparing to leave him. She discovered that he was transferring company money into private accounts.””
My stomach tightened.
“Did he hurt her?””
Victoria shook her head.
“I don't know. But two weeks before she died, she told me something I'll never forget.””
“What?””
“She said my father was capable of making people disappear without anyone noticing.””
For a moment, nobody spoke.
Victoria continued.
“When Daniel discovered the financial fraud, he wanted to expose my father. But he also discovered that my mother's death had been investigated privately by someone outside the family.””
Michael looked up.
“Who?””
“Frank Dorsey.””
Michael stood.
“Then Frank knew about both incidents.””
Victoria nodded.
“He told Daniel he had evidence. That's why they arranged to meet that night.””
I felt a chill.
“So Daniel wasn't simply trying to protect you.””
“No.””
She looked at me.
“He was trying to protect the evidence.””
Thomas's residence sat behind tall iron gates in one of the wealthiest neighborhoods in the city.
We didn't go there immediately.
Rebecca contacted the authorities and requested legal assistance to secure the property if evidence of fraud could be established.
But before anyone could move, my phone rang.
It was Arthur Bell.
I hadn't spoken to him in years.
“Eleanor?””
His voice was thin but unmistakable.
“Arthur?””
“I heard you've been asking about Daniel.””
I sat down.
“Yes. I've found some of his old documents.””
Arthur sighed.
“I was hoping you'd never have to see those.””
“Why didn't you tell me the truth?””
“Because I was afraid.””
“Of Thomas?””
“Of what he could do to you.””
I closed my eyes.
“Arthur, my brother died. My inheritance was stolen. My mother has spent eleven years believing she failed her son. How much more could he have taken?””
Arthur was silent.
Then he said, “There's something you need to know about your brother's final business arrangement.””
“What?””
“Daniel didn't leave you shares.””
I frowned.
“What do you mean?””
“He left you something more important.””
“What?””
“The original voting agreement.””
I looked toward Rebecca.
She immediately started writing.
Arthur continued.
“Daniel knew Thomas would try to take the company. So he arranged for the founding shareholders to sign an agreement. If his ownership was transferred without your authorization, all voting rights would revert to a family trust.””
“Which trust?””
“The Hayes Family Trust.””
I felt my pulse quicken.
“Who controls it?””
“You do.””
I stared at the wall.
“Why didn't anyone tell me?””
“Because Thomas forged a document claiming the trust had been dissolved.””
Rebecca leaned toward the phone.
“Mr. Bell, do you still have the original agreement?””
“Yes.””
“Can you send it to us?””
“I can do better. I have the original.””
My breath caught.
“Where?””
“In my house. I've kept it in a fireproof safe since Daniel's funeral.””
“Arthur, we need it.””
“I know.””
He hesitated.
“Eleanor, there's one more thing.””
“What?””
“Daniel came to see me two days before the accident. He told me Thomas had threatened him.””
“With what?””
Arthur's voice dropped.
“Thomas said he would expose Daniel's involvement in your father's death.””
My heart stopped.
“My father?””
“Yes.””
I gripped the phone.
“What does Thomas know about my father?””
Arthur exhaled slowly.
“Your father didn't die of natural causes, Eleanor.””
The room went silent.
I could hear my own heartbeat.
“What are you saying?””
“Daniel believed Thomas had manipulated the circumstances surrounding your father's final business decisions. He thought there had been financial pressure, threats, and possibly something more.””
I felt as though the floor had tilted.
My father had died eleven years earlier.
Three months before Daniel.
Two deaths.
One man connected to both.
“Arthur, I need you to send me everything.””
“I will.””
Then he said something that changed the direction of the entire investigation.
“Eleanor, Daniel wasn't trying to destroy Thomas. He was trying to stop him from taking control of the company before your father died.””
I stared at Rebecca.
“Why?””
Arthur answered.
“Because your father had left the original company to you.””
By evening, we had obtained a temporary preservation order covering Thomas's business records.
But he was already moving.
Marcus called me at 7:36 p.m.
“Eleanor, we've discovered something.””
“What?””
“The $8.7 million wasn't the only payment.””
He sent me a spreadsheet.
There were twenty-three transactions over four years.
The total was $31.4 million.
Every payment had been routed through Whitmore Strategic Advisory.
I looked at the names.
Several were unfamiliar.
One wasn't.
Frank Dorsey.
A payment of $450,000 had been transferred to an account registered under his name.
The date was two days after Daniel's accident.
I forwarded the information to Rebecca.
“Find him.””
Marcus nodded.
“Already trying.””
Then my office door opened.
Victoria stood there holding a small envelope.
“I found this in my father's study.””
She placed it on my desk.
Inside was a photograph of Daniel's damaged car.
On the back was a handwritten note.
The passenger survived. The witness was paid. The original recording remains with me.
I looked at Victoria.
“Where did you find this?””
“In a locked drawer.””
“Did your father write it?””
She nodded.
I turned the photograph over again.
There was another line at the bottom, written in different handwriting.
If anything happens to me, contact Eleanor Hayes.
I looked up.
“Who wrote this?””
Victoria shook her head.
“I don't know.””
Then she reached into her purse and removed a small key.
“My father uses this for his private safe.””
I studied her.
“Why give it to me?””
“Because I think he knows the truth about my mother, too.””
Before I could answer, Michael called.
“We found Frank Dorsey.””
“Where?””
“He's living under another name in a small town outside Manchester.””
“Is he willing to talk?””
Michael paused.
“He called me ten minutes ago.””
“What did he say?””
Michael's voice became grave.
“He said he'll tell us everything, but only if you personally agree to meet him.””
“Why me?””
“Because he says Daniel left something for you.””
I glanced at the photograph.
“What?””
May you like
Michael lowered his voice.
“Your brother's original will.””
