Chapter 8 - The Trap Inside the Mansion
Dominic returned home with copies.
The originals went to Samuel Keene.
The blue ledger and brass key remained inside Margaret's handbag.
Dominic wanted them somewhere secure.
Margaret refused.
"Angelo trusted this bag."
"Angelo also had a bank vault."
"And somebody knew about that vault."
Dominic could not argue.
They decided not to reveal what they had found.
Instead, Dominic called Lucian.
"We need to talk."
Lucian arrived forty minutes later.
Valeria came with him.
Dominic waited in the study.
Margaret stayed upstairs with Emma.
Lucian sat.
"You look terrible."
Dominic almost admired the performance.
"I've had a long morning."
Valeria crossed her legs.
"We heard about the medication."
Dominic watched her.
"How?"
A tiny pause.
Lucian answered.
"Security called me."
"They don't report to you anymore."
Lucian blinked.
Dominic continued.
"I changed that at four this morning."
Silence.
Valeria smiled.
"Dominic, surely you don't think we planted anything."
"I didn't say that."
"You implied it."
"No. You did."
Lucian leaned forward.
"This situation is becoming poisonous."
"Agreed."
"Then let professionals evaluate Margaret."
"There will be an evaluation."
Valeria relaxed.
Dominic added, "Of the documents."
Her smile disappeared.
"Every trust amendment. Every proxy authorization. Every transfer."
Lucian's face remained controlled.
"Good."
"You don't seem worried."
"I have nothing to hide."
Dominic leaned back.
"Then you'll surrender your administrative access until the review is complete."
Lucian stared at him.
"No."
Dominic smiled without warmth.
"Wrong answer."
"Romano Holdings is in the middle of three major acquisitions."
"They can survive without you."
Lucian stood.
"This is your mother's paranoia talking."
Dominic stood too.
"No. This is the owner of the company talking."
Lucian's jaw clenched.
"You own thirty-seven percent."
"My trust controls another twenty-six."
"Only with valid voting proxies."
Dominic went still.
Lucian realized his mistake.
He knew too much.
Dominic stepped closer.
"Interesting."
Lucian said nothing.
"Most executives don't memorize the mechanics of my family's private trust."
"I manage corporate risk."
"You manage my patience."
Valeria stood.
"Come on, Lucian."
As they walked toward the door, Dominic spoke.
"One more thing."
They stopped.
"My mother's room is off limits."
Valeria turned.
"I've never been in Margaret's room."
Emma's little voice came from the hallway.
"Red lady."
Everyone looked.
Margaret stood holding Emma.
Emma pointed directly at Valeria.
"Red lady bag."
Valeria's face changed.
Only for an instant.
But Dominic saw it.
Lucian saw Dominic see it.
The room became dangerous.
Valeria laughed nervously.
"She's a baby."
Margaret replied, "Babies don't understand lies. That's why they notice them."
Lucian grabbed Valeria's arm.
"We're leaving."
After they were gone, Dominic turned to security.
"Lock their access credentials."
"Yes, sir."
"Every door."
The security director hesitated.
"Mr. Hale has a permanent executive code."
"Delete it."
"Only the system administrator can."
"Who is that?"
The man looked uncomfortable.
"Mr. Hale."
Dominic closed his eyes.
Lucian had built himself into the house.
Not just the company.
The house.
That evening technicians began replacing the security network.
At 11:32 p.m., every camera inside the west wing went dark.
Dominic ran upstairs.
Margaret's room was empty.
So was Emma's nursery.
For five seconds, terror emptied his mind.
Then he heard Margaret shouting downstairs.
Dominic ran.
He found her near the service corridor.
Emma was in her arms.
A masked man had entered through a maintenance door and fled when Margaret screamed.
Nothing had been taken.
Except one thing.
Margaret's handbag was gone.
Dominic felt sick.
Security searched the grounds.
No one found it.
Twenty minutes later, Margaret entered the laundry room.
She stopped.
The battered handbag sat inside an empty washing machine.
Someone had opened every pocket.
But not the hidden compartment.
The blue ledger remained.
The key remained.
Margaret touched the secret seam.
"Angelo was right."
Dominic stood behind her.
"About what?"
"They don't know how to open it."
Dominic stared at the bag.
Then he looked at his mother.
"Good."
Margaret frowned.
"Good?"
May you like
Dominic's expression changed.
"If they want the bag that badly, let's make sure they see you carrying it."
