Chapter 5 - The Account in Fiona’s Name
Luca moved in front of Blaire.
“Stay behind me.”
The hidden room was barely larger than a closet.
One desk.
One chair.
One telephone.
No windows.
The phone continued ringing.
Luca answered.
Silence.
Then a distorted voice.
“Put Blaire on.”
Luca’s expression hardened.
“No.”
The caller laughed.
“She was always the stubborn one.”
Blaire took the phone.
“Who is this?”
“You have Eleanor’s eyes.”
Her blood chilled.
“Where is my mother?”
“Closer than you think.”
The line went dead.
Security traced nothing.
Inside the desk they found a bank ledger.
One account was highlighted.
Beneficiary:
FIONA ELEANOR VANCE.
Balance:
$48,600,000.
Blaire stared.
“This is insane.”
Margaret arrived before sunrise.
She recognized the account immediately.
Sebastian’s missing foundation money had never been stolen.
It had been moved into protected trusts while he investigated the fraud.
Fiona’s account was one of them.
“Why Fiona?”
“It predates Fiona,” Margaret said. “The beneficiary was originally listed as Eleanor’s future direct descendant.”
Blaire felt nauseated.
David had not merely married her for evidence.
He had married the beneficiary.
At breakfast, Fiona poured cereal onto Luca’s sleeve.
He looked at the milk dripping from his jacket.
Fiona whispered, “Sorry.”
Luca inspected the damage gravely.
“This suit has survived hostile acquisitions.”
Fiona’s lip trembled.
“But cereal may finally defeat it.”
She giggled.
Blaire watched them.
Dangerously normal.
Her phone buzzed.
David.
She almost ignored it.
Then saw the photograph.
David was holding Megan.
Not violently.
But Megan looked terrified.
COME ALONE.
Luca saw Blaire’s face.
“No.”
“He has Megan.”
“We call police.”
“He’ll run.”
“He wants you frightened enough to make a bad decision.”
“He knows me.”
“So do I.”
“You met me yesterday.”
“And I already know you’ll walk into danger if you think it protects someone else.”
Blaire stared at him.
He was right.
They arranged the meeting with police nearby.
David chose an abandoned restaurant in Queens.
Blaire entered wearing a microphone.
Luca remained two blocks away.
David sat alone.
“Where’s Megan?”
“Safe.”
“Show me.”
He showed a live video.
Megan sat in a car.
Alone.
“You kidnapped her?”
“I convinced her to come.”
“You threatened her.”
“I told her the truth.”
“What truth?”
David looked exhausted.
“I never took the money from our account.”
Blaire laughed bitterly.
“Then it evaporated?”
“I moved it because they were watching every transaction.”
“Who?”
“The same people who hired me to find your mother.”
“Sterling?”
“No.”
That answer changed everything.
“Then who?”
David leaned closer.
“You think Luca Sterling found you by accident?”
Blaire’s stomach tightened.
“He was assigned Seat 14C forty minutes before boarding.”
“So?”
“His original seat was in first class.”
Blaire remembered Luca asking for help avoiding cameras.
David continued.
“He moved beside you.”
“Why?”
“Ask him.”
“You’re lying.”
“Check the manifest.”
Blaire hated that she believed enough to feel hurt.
David slid a folder across the table.
Inside was a photograph of Luca at Chicago O’Hare before the flight.
Talking to a woman.
Blaire recognized her.
Margaret.
Timestamp: ninety minutes before boarding.
On the back was written:
BLAIRE STERLING — CONFIRMED.
Her microphone crackled.
Luca’s voice came through her hidden earpiece.
“Blaire, get out.”
David heard nothing.
He leaned forward.
“Ask your billionaire why he was waiting for you before you ever met.”
Then the restaurant’s back door opened.
Footsteps entered.
David’s face changed.
“That isn’t my man.”
May you like
Blaire turned.
Someone locked the door behind them.
