Chapter 3 - The Attorney
His name was Victor Lang.
For fifteen years, Victor had represented the Carter family.
He had handled wills.
Trusts.
Business acquisitions.
Property transfers.
And, most importantly, the estate of Richard's father.
Richard called him the next morning.
"I need to see you."
Victor didn't sound surprised.
"Of course."
"Today."
"Certainly."
Richard hung up.
Claire watched him.
"You're going alone?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because if he's involved, I need him to think I still trust him."
Claire nodded.
"Be careful."
Richard kissed Emma's forehead.
"I will."
At Victor's office, Richard sat across from him.
Victor smiled.
"You look troubled."
"My mother says Claire is unstable."
Victor nodded slowly.
"Your mother is concerned about your family."
Richard leaned back.
"Do you believe Claire is dangerous?"
Victor hesitated.
"I believe you should consider your daughter's safety."
Richard's heart hardened.
"Interesting."
Victor frowned.
"What's interesting?"
"You said the same thing my mother said."
Silence.
Richard placed a folder on the desk.
Inside was a photograph of Victor entering his mother's house.
Victor stared at it.
Then looked up.
"You've been following me."
"No."
Richard slid another photograph forward.
The bottle.
Victor's face changed.
"Where did you get that?"
"From my living room."
Victor said nothing.
Richard stood.
"I know."
Victor sighed.
"You don't understand."
"Then explain."
"Your mother is trying to protect the family."
"By poisoning my daughter?"
Victor's expression tightened.
"She wasn't supposed to drink it."
Richard stared.
"What?"
"She was supposed to become sick."
"That's your defense?"
Victor looked away.
"The plan was to create evidence that Claire was neglecting her."
Richard's blood ran cold.
"Who planned it?"
Victor didn't answer.
Richard stepped closer.
"My mother?"
Victor whispered:
"She didn't act alone."
Richard's phone vibrated.
A message from Claire.
EMMA IS GONE.
Richard froze.
He ran from the office.
When he arrived home, police were already there.
Claire was hysterical.
"She was in the backyard."
Richard grabbed her shoulders.
"What happened?"
"I turned around for thirty seconds."
Richard's heart stopped.
Then Emma appeared.
A police officer carried her inside.
She was crying.
"Mommy!"
Claire ran to her.
Emma clung to her.
Richard crouched.
"What happened?"
Emma pointed toward the gate.
"A man tried to take me."
Richard felt ice spread through his veins.
"Did you know him?"
Emma shook her head.
"He said Grandma sent him."
Claire looked at Richard.
"This has to stop."
Richard nodded.
"It will."
That night, they moved into a secure hotel.
Richard hired private security.
But before sleeping, he reviewed the footage from the house.
There was the man.
He approached Emma.
He spoke to her.
Then Emma ran.
The man didn't chase.
He simply walked away.
Richard zoomed in.
A tattoo was visible on the man's wrist.
Three black lines.
Victor's office assistant had the same tattoo.
Richard called the police.
But Victor was already gone.
His office was empty.
His phone disconnected.
His bank accounts closed.
Someone had warned him.
The next morning, Richard received an envelope.
Inside was a photograph of his father.
On the back were six words:
Your father knew the truth before he died.
Richard stared at it.
May you like
His father had died believing Richard was the rightful heir.
But now Richard wondered if the entire inheritance had been built on a lie.
