Chapter 4: The Recording That Changed Everything
I read the message again.
If you want to know what really happened to your father, don't attend that board meeting alone.
Then the second line appeared.
And don't trust Eleanor Whitmore.
For several seconds, I couldn't move.
Naomi stood across the table, watching me.
"What's wrong?"" she asked.
I turned the phone toward her.
She read the messages twice.
Her face lost what little color remained.
"Who sent that?""
"I don't know.""
"Could it be Xavier?""
"Maybe.""
I slipped the phone into my pocket.
Naomi reached for the flash drive.
"Listen, Cedric. We need to get this to Eleanor before Xavier destroys the evidence.""
I looked at her.
"Didn't you just hear what the message said?""
"About Eleanor?""
"Yes.""
"Someone could be trying to turn us against her.""
"Or someone could be trying to warn us.""
Naomi lowered her voice.
"Your father trusted Eleanor. That's what you told me.""
"I didn't tell you that. I barely knew she existed yesterday.""
She looked away.
For the first time, I realized how little I actually knew about the woman who had spent seven years living beside me.
I stood and pushed my chair back.
"Come with me.""
"Where?""
"To find out what's on this drive.""
Twenty minutes later, we were in Dr. Bennett's office.
He locked the door, closed the blinds, and connected the flash drive to an isolated university computer.
A folder appeared.
Inside were scanned contracts, financial records, photographs, and three audio files.
The first recording was dated eight years earlier.
The second was dated six years earlier.
The third had been created only two months ago.
Dr. Bennett put on his headphones.
"Let's start with the oldest.""
He pressed play.
A man's voice filled the room.
I recognized it immediately.
My father.
"Daniel, I want the original agreement returned. Eleanor and I both signed it. Nobody has the authority to change the ownership structure without my consent.""
Another voice answered.
"Mr. Walls, you need to understand that the board has already approved the restructuring.""
My father sounded furious.
"Then the board approved something illegal.""
There was a pause.
The second man spoke again.
"You're making this personal.""
"It became personal when someone used my son's name to transfer my shares.""
I stopped breathing.
My son.
Me.
The recording continued.
"Your son knows nothing about this," the lawyer said.
"That's exactly why I want him protected.""
Then came a sound like a chair scraping across the floor.
My father's voice dropped.
"If anything happens to me, make sure Cedric receives the original documents. Not copies. The originals.""
The recording ended.
I stared at the screen.
Dr. Bennett slowly removed his headphones.
"Good Lord.""
Naomi covered her mouth.
I could barely speak.
"My father knew.""
Dr. Bennett nodded.
"Apparently, he suspected someone was preparing to take control of his shares.""
I opened the second recording.
The same lawyer spoke.
This time, he sounded nervous.
"Mr. Walls, the amended agreement has been prepared. Your signature appears on the final page.""
My father's voice answered.
"I never signed it.""
"That's not what the documents show.""
"Then someone forged my signature.""
A long silence followed.
Then the lawyer said something that made my blood run cold.
"Your business partner has already agreed to the arrangement.""
My father responded immediately.
"Eleanor would never do that.""
The lawyer laughed softly.
"Mr. Walls, you should stop assuming you know what people are capable of.""
The recording ended.
I turned toward Dr. Bennett.
"Where is the original agreement?""
He looked at Eleanor's earlier documents.
"She may know.""
I shook my head.
"Or she may be the reason it's missing.""
Naomi stepped closer.
"We need to call the police.""
"Not yet.""
"Why not?""
"Because we don't know who created these recordings, whether they're complete, or whether the documents are authentic.""
Dr. Bennett nodded.
"He's right. We need an independent forensic examination.""
He copied the files onto a secure university drive.
Then he looked at me.
"Cedric, there's something else you should understand. If these recordings are genuine, this isn't simply a shareholder dispute. This could involve fraud, forgery, and deliberate concealment of ownership.""
I stared at my father's photograph on the desk.
For eight years, I had believed he died with nothing but a small repair shop and a few unpaid bills.
Now I was discovering that he might have spent his final years fighting someone who wanted to erase his legacy.
My phone rang.
Eleanor.
I answered.
"Cedric, where are you?""
"On my way.""
"Good. The board is assembling.""
"Before I come, I need to ask you something.""
"Of course.""
"Did my father ever accuse you of stealing his shares?""
Silence.
A long, uncomfortable silence.
Then Eleanor answered.
"Yes.""
My stomach tightened.
"What happened?""
"Your father believed I had approved the transfer.""
"Did you?""
"No.""
"Then why did the documents say otherwise?""
Her voice weakened.
"Because someone forged my signature too.""
I closed my eyes.
"Why didn't you tell me yesterday?""
"Because I didn't want to overwhelm you before we established what you had inherited.""
"Or because you wanted me to trust you before I knew the truth?""
"Cedric, I understand why you're suspicious. But your father and I were friends long before either of us became business partners.""
I looked at Naomi.
She shook her head slightly.
I continued.
"Who had access to the original agreement?""
Eleanor took a breath.
"Three people. Your father, me, and the company's legal counsel.""
"The lawyer?""
"Yes.""
I glanced at the audio files.
"Then we need to talk about him.""
"That isn't possible.""
"Why?""
"Because he died eight years ago.""
I swallowed.
"How did he die?""
"An apparent heart attack.""
The room went quiet.
I looked at the date on the recording.
Eight years earlier.
The same year my father died.
I felt something tighten inside my chest.
"Was anyone else involved?""
"I don't know," Eleanor answered.
"Then we're going to find out.""
I ended the call.
Dr. Bennett stood.
"I'll arrange the forensic examination. But you need to be careful at that meeting.""
I nodded.
Naomi picked up her handbag.
"I'm coming with you.""
I looked at her.
"Why?""
"Because I have the documents Xavier gave me. And because I know what he has been planning.""
I studied her for a moment.
"You understand that I don't trust you.""
"I know.""
"You helped him get information about my invention.""
Her eyes filled.
"I know.""
"You lied to me for months.""
"I know, Cedric.""
I picked up the folder.
"Then don't ask me to trust you. Just tell the truth.""
She nodded.
We left the office together.
At the university entrance, a black SUV was waiting.
A man stepped out.
He wore a dark suit and carried a leather briefcase.
"Mr. Walls?""
"Yes.""
He handed me an envelope.
"An individual requested that you receive this before attending the board meeting.""
"Who?""
The man glanced at Naomi.
Then he leaned closer.
"Someone who worked for your father.""
I opened the envelope.
Inside was an old photograph.
My father stood beside a young boy.
The boy looked about ten years old.
On the back, someone had written:
*THE OTHER HEIR.*
I stared at the photograph.
There was a second name underneath.
May you like
And it was a name I had never expected to see.
*XAVIER MITCHELL.*
