But the clock was unusual. Its hands had been removed.
He reached behind the frame and found a small metal latch.
The panel opened.
Inside was a narrow compartment containing a key, a handwritten ledger, and an envelope addressed to Richard.
Richard opened the letter with trembling hands.
Richard,
If you are reading this, then I failed to persuade you to confront Margaret while there was still time.
The missing money was not the only secret. Someone created a false identity to receive payments, and the name attached to that identity belongs to a person who should never have been involved.
I have placed the original ledger here. It records the transfers and the names of the people who approved them.
Do not trust the copies held at the company.
Most importantly, do not allow the beneficiary of the Carter trust to be used as a weapon.
Thomas.
Richard finished reading and sat down heavily.
Alexander opened the ledger.
The first pages listed the transfers connected to Northbridge Capital. Several entries were marked with initials. Some belonged to Margaret Hale. Others were attributed to unidentified accounts.
One name appeared repeatedly.
E. Carter.
Emily examined the entries.
“That could refer to Eleanor.”
“Or someone using her name,” Rebecca said over the phone.
Near the end of the ledger, Alexander found a handwritten note.
The final authorization was approved by R.W. after the board meeting.
He looked at his father.
“R.W.?”
Richard stared at the page.
“My initials.”
“Did you approve the transfer?”
“I signed hundreds of documents during that period. I cannot remember every authorization.”
“Did you sign this one?”
Richard studied the handwriting.
“It looks like mine.”
Emily stepped back.
“Then perhaps your father wasn’t the only person responsible.”
Richard’s face tightened.
“I never authorized money to be stolen.”
