Chapter 9 - The Other Hawthorne
Richard Hawthorne had not attended the hotel that evening.
According to Conrad, that was unusual.
Richard was Conrad’s younger brother and the company’s chief financial officer.
He controlled international banking relationships.
He approved subsidiary transfers.
He also supervised hotel security.
Including Marcus Vale.
Vanessa looked horrified.
“Uncle Richard?”
Conrad said nothing.
Claire remembered a name from the USB.
R.H. CONSULTANCY.
She opened the copied files on Cole’s laptop.
They searched.
There it was.
R.H. CONSULTANCY had received eight separate transfers over fourteen months.
Total value: nine million dollars.
Cole leaned back.
“That gives us probable cause for more than a conversation.”
Conrad stood.
“I’m calling him.”
Cole stopped him.
“No.”
Conrad glared.
“This is my family.”
“It became my investigation when somebody tried to burn evidence and assault a witness.”
Cole contacted his department.
A team was sent to Richard’s residence.
Another team went to Hawthorne corporate offices.
Claire felt the story widening around her.
Julian was no longer the entire monster.
He was part of something larger.
But that did not make him innocent.
At 2:26 a.m., Cole received a call.
His expression changed.
“What happened?”
He listened.
Then he ended the call.
“Richard Hawthorne isn’t home.”
Conrad gripped his cane.
“Where is he?”
“His staff hasn’t seen him since this afternoon.”
Vanessa whispered, “He knew.”
Cole nodded.
Then another officer entered the room.
“Detective.”
He handed Cole a tablet.
Surveillance footage from the hotel parking garage appeared on screen.
The video had been recorded less than an hour before Claire found the USB.
Richard Hawthorne walked through the garage.
Marcus followed him.
Then Julian appeared.
The three men entered a black SUV.
Twelve minutes later, Julian returned alone.
Claire stared at the screen.
“Where did Richard go?”
No one answered.
They checked the next camera.
The SUV left the hotel.
Marcus was driving.
Richard sat in the passenger seat.
A third man occupied the back.
The image was unclear.
Cole enlarged it.
Claire’s breath caught.
The third man had a scar along the right side of his jaw.
She knew that face.
She had seen him six months earlier.
He had been the lawyer who came to her house after Julian’s supposed death.
The man who handed her the death certificate.
The man who told her there was no body because the fire had destroyed everything.
Claire whispered his name.
“Stephen Marr.”
Cole turned.
“Who?”
May you like
Claire pointed at the screen.
“That man buried my husband on paper.”
