[COMPLETED] The Rings Hidden in the Whitmore Libraryc

By noon, the rain had reduced the Boston skyline to a smear of gray slate. Alexander sat in the mahogany-paneled conference room of the Merchant’s National Trust, the brass key resting between his palms.

Across from him sat Douglas Cole, the firm’s senior managing partner, who looked as if he hadn't slept since the turn of the century.

"Alexander, I told your father thirty years ago that this account was an operational liability," Douglas said quietly, sliding a thick ledger across the table. "When Margaret restructured the foundation following your brother's passing, she cordoned off twenty-two percent of the family's liquid assets."

"We audited the foundation three months ago," Alexander said coldly. "Every account was accounted for. The charity disbursements, the scholarships, the endowment."

"This wasn't on the foundation’s books," Douglas replied. He adjusted his half-moon spectacles. "This was held under an off-shore blind trust named *St. Jude Maritime*. The sole signatory was Margaret. But upon her legal death, the signatory didn't pass to you or Elena."

Alexander leaned forward. "Then who has access to it?"

"The contingent heir," Douglas said, opening the ledger to reveal a signature card signed just four days ago. "A woman named Julianna Vance."

Alexander felt the air leave his lungs. "Vance? As in Detective Marcus Vance?"

"Marcus Vance was her father," Douglas said grimly. "Marcus was the private investigator your mother kept on an annual retainer of two hundred thousand dollars from 1994 until the day he died. According to the covenants of this trust, Julianna is entitled to full liquidation of the Whitmore primary estate if certain conditions aren't met by the end of this month."

"What conditions?"

"The return of the collateral," Douglas said, pointing to a single handwritten line at the bottom of the deed. "*Three rings of uncut sapphire, recovered from the wreck at Blackwater Gorge.*"

Alexander stared at the signature card. "The rings in the library were gold bands. Wedding sets."