Chapter 9 - My Father’s Former Partner
The voice belonged to Malcolm Crane.
For twenty years, Malcolm had been my father’s business partner and closest friend.
He had stood beside me at the funeral, held my shoulders, and promised that I would never face the future alone.
Then he disappeared from my life.
Daniel listened to the recording twice.
“There’s no doubt,” he said.
“Why would Malcolm want my house?”
“He may not want the house. He may want what the trust controls.”
The Dawson Coastal Trust included more than the oceanfront property. It also held shares in a marine engineering company my father had founded before I was born.
Those shares had never interested Blake.
Or so I believed.
Daniel examined the missing-document list.
“The beneficiary amendment may involve voting control.”
I remembered Malcolm once asking whether I planned to sell my father’s shares. I had said no.
He had smiled and told me that was wise.
Now the smile felt like a warning I had failed to understand.
We returned home to find Emma waiting with Rosa.
She ran into my arms.
“Are we still staying here?”
“Yes.”
“Is Dad coming back?”
I could not lie.
“Not tonight.”
Her eyes filled, but she nodded bravely.
Then she handed me a folded piece of paper.
“I found this under Grandma’s pillow.”
It was a handwritten note from Patricia.
Friday. Claire removed. Amendment signed. Malcolm releases Blake’s debt.
Patricia had known Malcolm’s name all along.
Before I could call the deputy, the alarm sounded from the detached garage.
Security cameras showed Patricia’s attorney entering with authorization to collect her personal belongings.
But he was not alone.
A man in a dark jacket moved behind him.
Malcolm Crane looked directly into the camera.
May you like
Then the feed went black.
👉 Malcolm had finally entered Claire’s property himself, and he was searching for something Patricia had failed to steal.
