Chapter 18 - Claire’s Signature
Claire thought Julian was lying.
Then federal investigators showed her the documents.
An offshore trust had been created four years earlier.
Beneficiary: Claire Bennett Mercer.
The signature was hers.
She remembered signing the papers.
Julian had told her they were estate documents.
She had trusted him.
Four hundred million dollars had moved through the trust.
Most had already been transferred elsewhere.
But eighty-seven million remained frozen in a Swiss account.
Access required Claire’s biometric confirmation.
Conrad needed her alive.
At least until he had the money.
That explained why the death payment had never been released.
It was not mercy.
It was timing.
Federal agents placed Claire under protection.
Vanessa offered her a secure residence owned by the Hawthorne company.
Claire declined.
She was tired of luxurious rooms controlled by people with secrets.
Instead she stayed at an undisclosed government apartment.
On the fourth night, Claire woke at 2:13 a.m.
The apartment was silent.
Too silent.
She walked toward the kitchen.
A lamp switched on.
Conrad Hawthorne sat at the table.
Claire stopped.
He looked exhausted.
His immaculate appearance was gone.
There was dried blood near his collar.
“Don’t scream.”
Claire stared at him.
“How did you get in?”
“I spent twenty years building doors people don’t know exist.”
“Police are outside.”
“One of them works for me.”
Claire’s heart hammered.
Conrad placed a folder on the table.
“I need your authorization.”
Claire almost laughed.
“For eighty-seven million dollars?”
“For my survival.”
“You mean your escape.”
Conrad looked at her.
“You think Julian is a victim now?”
“No.”
“Good.”
He leaned back.
“He enjoyed the money.”
“I know.”
“He enjoyed the power.”
“I know.”
“He betrayed you before he ever betrayed me.”
“I know.”
Conrad’s eyes narrowed.
Claire continued.
“The difference is that Julian finally admitted what he is.”
“And you think that makes him better?”
“No.”
Claire stepped closer.
“But you still think you can talk your way out of being exactly what you are.”
Conrad smiled.
“You have changed.”
“You made sure of that.”
He removed a small pistol from his coat.
He placed it on the table.
“Authorize the transfer.”
Claire looked at the gun.
Then at the folder.
“What happens afterward?”
“You walk away.”
“You expect me to believe you?”
“No.”
Conrad smiled faintly.
“I expect you to want to live.”
Claire sat.
She opened the folder.
A tablet waited for her biometric scan.
Claire pressed her thumb against the screen.
Conrad watched.
ACCESS CONFIRMED appeared.
Then another message appeared.
TRANSFER PENDING SECOND AUTHORIZATION.
Conrad frowned.
“What is that?”
Claire smiled for the first time.
“Something Julian forgot to mention.”
The apartment door exploded inward.
Federal agents rushed inside.
Conrad grabbed the gun.
Claire ducked.
A shot thundered.
Glass shattered.
Agents tackled Conrad to the floor.
Claire crawled backward, trembling.
Cole entered seconds later.
“You okay?”
Claire nodded.
Then she looked at the tablet.
A live connection icon remained on the screen.
Julian had been right.
The reserve needed two approvals.
Claire’s.
May you like
And his.
Conrad had walked into a trap.
