Chapter 11 - THE SECOND ACCOUNT
The next morning, Matthew entered his father's study for the first time in seven years.
Dust covered everything.
Books remained exactly where his father had left them.
A leather chair sat beside the window.
Matthew remembered sitting there as a child.
He remembered his father's voice.
One day, son, everything I build will be yours.
Matthew had believed him.
Now he wasn't sure what anything meant anymore.
Grace stood near the doorway.
"Are you sure?"
"No."
He walked toward the desk.
Jessica joined them.
"Robert said second account."
Matthew nodded.
They searched for hours.
Nothing.
Then Grace noticed something.
"The painting."
Matthew looked at the large portrait hanging behind the desk.
His father's portrait.
"What's wrong?"
"The frame."
She touched it.
"It's been moved."
Matthew pulled it away.
A hidden compartment appeared.
Inside was a small black ledger.
And a letter.
Matthew opened it.
Matthew,
If you found this, then Robert has failed to destroy everything.
Matthew's hands trembled.
I made terrible mistakes. I trusted my brother too long. I involved people who should never have been involved. But I never stole from you.
Matthew continued reading.
The second account contained millions.
But it wasn't Matthew's.
It belonged to the children.
His father had created a protected trust for Benjamin and Caleb.
It could not be touched by Matthew.
Nor Jessica.
Nor any other adult.
The beneficiary was the twins.
Matthew sat down.
His father had secretly protected them.
Then he noticed another page.
A list of names.
One name was circled.
Grace Whitmore.
Matthew looked at Grace.
"Why is your name here?"
She stared at the page.
"I don't know."
Jessica took the ledger.
Her face went pale.
"My father."
"What?"
"Thomas knew your father."
Grace's voice trembled.
"They were partners."
Matthew stared.
"Partners?"
"Before they became enemies."
Jessica explained that years earlier, Thomas and Matthew's father had attempted to expose Robert together.
But the plan failed.
Thomas was framed.
Matthew's father was threatened.
And everyone involved went into hiding.
Then Grace noticed something written at the bottom.
A date.
August 31.
Tomorrow.
Matthew looked at the calendar.
"What's tomorrow?"
Jessica shook her head.
Then Grace remembered.
"The trust becomes active."
Matthew frowned.
"Meaning?"
"Benjamin and Caleb become the legal owners of the account."
Matthew's eyes widened.
"How much?"
Grace whispered:
"One hundred and eighty million dollars."
Silence.
Matthew sat back.
His father had secretly built a fortune for his grandchildren.
But now Matthew understood why Robert had kidnapped them.
He didn't want the company.
He wanted the trust.
And he was still free to act through people outside the prison.
Then Matthew's phone rang.
The police chief.
"Mr. Carter, you need to come downtown."
"Why?"
"We found Michael's phone."
"And?"
"There are messages."
"What messages?"
The chief hesitated.
"Messages from your wife."
Matthew looked at Jessica.
She went pale.
"What?"
The chief continued.
"They were sent from your phone."
Matthew's heart stopped.
His phone was in his hand.
Someone had cloned it.
Then a message appeared.
Tomorrow, the children disappear forever.
Matthew looked at Grace.
May you like
The trust activation was tomorrow.
And someone had just declared war.
