Chapter 4 - The Broken Toy That Held a Dangerous Secret
The yellow toy bus sat on my desk.
It looked worthless.
One missing wheel.
Scratched paint.
Faded lettering.
Nothing a criminal would care about.
But my mother had owned it.
Margaret Carter had given it to Theo.
And now Dr. Shaw said it held evidence.
I picked up the bus.
“Where is the secret?”
She studied it.
“Inside.”
Vincent brought tools.
We carefully removed the remaining wheel.
A tiny metal capsule was hidden beneath the axle.
Inside was a rolled strip of paper.
Not a ledger.
A code.
A sequence of bank numbers.
Dr. Shaw looked shocked.
“It's the routing map.”
“What routing map?”
“The charitable fund.”
I stared.
“This proves where the money went.”
“Yes.”
“And who received it.”
“Yes.”
“Then why hide it in a toy?”
“Because nobody searches children's toys.”
I almost laughed.
My mother had always been smarter than everyone in the room.
But the code contained another clue.
An address.
An old church in Dorchester.
We went there that night.
The priest knew Margaret.
He led us to a basement.
There we found another box.
Inside were letters.
My mother's letters.
I read the first.
Arthur,
If you ever find this, I failed to protect you.
I stopped.
The letter continued.
Your father discovered that someone was using his company to move stolen money.
He wanted to go to the police.
I begged him to wait.
Because the person behind it threatened you.
I had always thought my father was weak.
He wasn't.
He was frightened for me.
The next letter was dated a week before his death.
Victor is not our enemy.
Someone is forcing him to cooperate.
And then the last letter.
The person behind this has access to the hospital, the bank, the police, and our own home.
That means they are closer than you think.
I stared at the words.
Closer than you think.
We returned to the estate.
Everyone was there.
Samuel.
Theo.
Vincent.
Dr. Shaw.
My legal adviser, Leonard Price.
My security director, Martin Vale.
And my accountant, Helen Brooks.
I looked at all of them.
One was connected.
Maybe more.
That night, I placed the five thousand dollars back on the same table.
Not as bait for Samuel.
As bait for whoever had framed him.
I left the room.
I watched through a hidden camera.
At 2:00 a.m., someone entered.
Martin Vale.
My security director.
He looked around.
Then reached for the envelope.
He pocketed it.
I walked in.
“Going somewhere?”
Martin froze.
“Boss.”
“Why did you take it?”
He dropped the money.
“I needed it.”
“For what?”
“My daughter's surgery.”
I stared.
“You could have asked.”
“I did.”
“To whom?”
“Leonard.”
My lawyer.
“Did he refuse?”
“He told me you'd never help.”
I understood.
Someone had been manipulating my employees.
Martin handed me the money.
“I didn't steal the three thousand.”
“Who did?”
“I don't know.”
“Then why take this?”
“Because I was afraid.”
He looked at Theo sleeping nearby.
“Fear makes people stupid.”
I looked at him.
“Who threatened you?”
Martin's eyes moved toward Leonard's office.
“Your lawyer.”
My stomach tightened.
Leonard.
The man who had worked for my family for fifteen years.
I ordered Martin locked in a secure room.
Then I went downstairs.
Leonard was waiting.
“You're making a mistake.”
“What mistake?”
“Trusting Samuel.”
“I don't.”
“You're protecting a criminal.”
“I have evidence.”
Leonard smiled.
“Evidence can be manufactured.”
I stepped closer.
“Did you frame him?”
“No.”
“Did you threaten Martin?”
“No.”
“Did you know about the ledger?”
“No.”
I believed none of it.
Then Leonard said,
“There is something you don't understand.”
“What?”
“Your mother was not the first person to investigate the fund.”
“Who was?”
“Your father.”
“And?”
“He was murdered.”
I said nothing.
Leonard lowered his voice.
“Arthur, there are people who will kill you for continuing this.”
“I'm already aware.”
“No.”
He smiled.
“You aren't aware of all of them.”
Then the lights went out.
A scream came from upstairs.
We ran.
Theo was gone.
Samuel was unconscious.
The bedroom window was open.
A note sat on the pillow.
Bring the yellow bus.
Come to Pier 18.
Alone.
I read it twice.
Then Leonard whispered,
“They have him.”
I looked at him.
“Who?”
He stared toward the window.
“Victor.”
But there was something in his eyes.
May you like
Something that told me he knew more.
Much more.
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