Chapter 7 - The Blackwood Trial
The USB drive contained dozens of encrypted documents.
Victor contacted his attorney, Naomi Grant, and his cybersecurity director.
Within two hours, they unlocked the files.
Victor sat in his study with Lily nearby.
What appeared on the screen changed everything.
Clinical trial reports.
Internal emails.
Bank transfers.
Audio files.
Claire had been investigating Blackwood Pharmaceuticals before her death.
The company was not owned directly by Victor.
It belonged to Blackwood Holdings.
Victor controlled the majority interest.
But several board members managed daily operations.
One name appeared repeatedly.
Richard Vale.
Victor’s uncle.
The man who had raised him after his parents died.
Victor stared at the screen.
“This can’t be right.”
Naomi looked uncomfortable.
“The documents appear authentic.”
Payments had moved from a Blackwood subsidiary into Mercer’s private accounts.
Mercer had manipulated clinical data.
Patients had suffered severe reactions.
Claire discovered the fraud.
Then Serena’s name appeared.
She had received money too.
A lot of money.
Victor leaned back.
Lily whispered.
“How long have you known Serena?”
“Three years.”
“And Claire?”
Victor looked toward her.
“They knew each other socially.”
Lily frowned.
“Before Claire died?”
“Yes.”
Victor opened another audio file.
Claire’s voice appeared first.
“You told me Mercer was gone.”
Then Serena answered.
“He is.”
Claire said.
“I saw him yesterday.”
Silence.
Serena’s voice became colder.
“You should stop asking questions.”
Victor closed his eyes.
Claire responded.
“Are you threatening me?”
Serena laughed.
“I’m giving you advice.”
The recording ended.
Victor could barely speak.
He remembered Serena comforting him after Claire’s funeral.
She had brought meals.
She had called every evening.
She had been patient.
Understanding.
Kind.
Six months later, they began dating.
A year after that, they became engaged.
Victor suddenly felt sick.
Naomi continued reading.
“Claire scheduled a meeting with federal investigators.”
“When?”
“Two days after she died.”
Victor looked at her.
Naomi’s voice softened.
“She never made it.”
Lily stared at Oliver through the open study door.
“Then Serena wasn’t trying to hurt Oliver because of me.”
Victor shook his head.
“She was using Oliver.”
“To do what?”
Victor looked at the trial documents.
“To recreate Claire’s symptoms.”
Lily understood.
“If Oliver became sick like his mother…”
“Everyone would believe the condition was hereditary.”
“And that would make Claire’s death look natural.”
Victor nodded.
Then Naomi discovered another file.
It contained a draft trust amendment.
Victor read the document.
If Victor became incapacitated or died, Oliver inherited controlling ownership of Blackwood Holdings.
Until Oliver turned twenty-five, the guardian appointed by Victor would exercise voting authority.
The guardian listed on the draft was Serena Cross.
Victor had never signed it.
But someone had forged his signature.
Lily looked at him.
Serena’s plan suddenly became horrifyingly clear.
May you like
She did not merely want Oliver gone.
She wanted control of everything Oliver owned.
