Chapter 4 - THE ENVELOPE INSIDE THE WALL
James knew exactly which envelope Rebecca meant.
Three weeks earlier, she had installed a small safe inside the wall of her home office. When he asked what it contained, she told him it was insurance against someone inside the company.
At the time, he assumed she meant a dishonest executive.
Now he understood she meant his family.
Detectives accompanied him to the house.
The safe opened with Rebecca’s fingerprint backup and a code based on Emma’s birthday. Inside was a black envelope, a flash drive and a handwritten letter addressed to James.
He read the letter alone.
James,
If you are reading this, something happened before I could explain what I found. I need you to understand that I did not keep this from you because I stopped trusting you. I kept it from you because Lydia has spent your entire life convincing you that disagreement is betrayal.
I found the forged transfers six months ago. Your signature appears on them, but I know you did not approve them. She is building a case that points toward you.
Please do not defend her before you examine the evidence.
Rebecca
The flash drive contained the complete audit.
It showed Lydia and Victor stealing company funds for nearly seven years. Nurse Sandra received payments through one of Victor’s shell companies. Several executives had accepted bribes to support the acquisition.
The black envelope held the original corporate-protection agreement created by Rebecca’s father.
Lydia had never seen it.
The agreement contained a fraud clause: if anyone attempted to gain control of Rebecca’s shares through coercion, forged medical evidence or physical harm, all temporary voting authority would transfer to an independent trustee.
Not James.
Not Lydia.
Not any family member.
The board meeting Lydia planned to control was already beyond her reach.
Rebecca had activated the clause the morning of the crash.
Her attorney had been waiting for proof of who made the next move.
Lydia’s attempt to kill her supplied that proof.
At the emergency board meeting, investigators presented the hospital recording, forged transfer agreement and financial audit.
Lydia’s allies immediately began turning against one another.
The chief operating officer admitted Lydia promised him the CEO position after Rebecca’s removal. The company attorney revealed that Lydia had asked him to backdate documents. Sandra confessed she had replaced Rebecca’s legitimate medication order with a false entry to make the syringe appear authorized.
Then police found the driver.
He had been hiding inside one of Victor’s closed rehabilitation centers.
He agreed to testify.
Victor paid him to strike Rebecca’s vehicle while she crossed the employee garage. Lydia ordered him to make it appear accidental.
The driver claimed he never intended to kill her.
His instructions were to injure Rebecca badly enough that she missed the audit meeting.
When Rebecca survived and doctors predicted she might wake, Lydia created the second plan.
The syringe.
Lydia was brought into the boardroom in handcuffs after requesting a private meeting with James.
He nearly refused.
Rebecca’s attorney advised him to listen while detectives recorded.
Lydia entered wearing hospital-issued clothing beneath a borrowed coat. Without her jewelry, perfect hair and commanding posture, she seemed older than James remembered.
“They are blaming me for Victor’s crimes,” she said.
“You tried to inject Rebecca.”
“I panicked.”
“You stole the syringe.”
“I thought she would wake and destroy everything.”
“That is called motive.”
Lydia leaned across the table.
“I did all of this for you.”
James stared at her.
“You forged my signature.”
“To give you the company.”
“You prepared evidence blaming me.”
“Only as protection.”
“Protection for whom?”
Her silence answered him.
Then Lydia made one final attempt.
“Rebecca will never forgive you. She knows you spent years choosing me over her. Help me now, and I can still protect you from prison.”
James stood.
“You still think I am afraid to lose everything.”
“You should be.”
“I almost lost my wife. Everything else can disappear.”
He walked toward the door.
Lydia called after him.
“I am your mother.”
James stopped but did not turn around.
May you like
“And Rebecca is Emma’s mother.”
He left Lydia alone with the detectives.
