Chapter 5
Claire called the five captains before Richard could.
She invited them to the library an hour before midnight and told none of them why. Morgan men understood tone better than detail. By the time the first captain arrived, each of them knew something serious had happened.
Richard arrived last, leaning on anger like it could still pass for authority.
“You’re staging council business in the middle of a child’s party?”
Claire looked up from the chair at the head of the room. “No. I’m staging council business in the middle of a theft.”
Kevin followed him in with a bruise darkening one side of his face. Madison was not allowed in. Claire had sent the girl upstairs with two maids and a warning that no one was to question her until morning.
The captains took their seats.
Richard remained standing.
Claire let the silence settle before she spoke.
“Tonight my four-year-old son was humiliated in this house while my brother and father used a black family expense card tied to my private control account. Since then, my bookkeeper has confirmed nearly two million dollars in unauthorized spending and a pending transfer of another four point two million at midnight into channels designed to buy internal loyalty.”
One captain frowned. Another looked toward Kevin in open disbelief.
Richard laughed.
“Listen to her. She’s dressing up a domestic dispute as a financial conspiracy.”
Claire slid the black card across the table.
Then the itemized ledger.
Then photographs Martin had printed of Madison’s tennis equipment, the East Hampton lease agreement, and the stipend accounts tied to three of the men sitting there.
Nobody touched anything at first.
Then Captain Ellis finally spoke. “Why am I listed under emergency retention?”
Kevin answered too quickly. “Because we intended to compensate key men once the family structure shifted.”
Claire looked at him.
“There it is.”
The room changed.
Richard’s face tightened.
Claire continued. “You were not retaining captains for the organization. You were prepaying allegiance for a challenge against me.”
Richard folded his arms. “You control the money. You do not control the family.”
“No?”
Claire glanced at the clock.
“Then let’s find out who in this room mistakes theft for leadership.”
That was when Martin entered and quietly announced the final detail.
“The midnight transfer has already been queued from Richard Morgan’s override key.”
Even Richard looked startled that Martin was willing to say it aloud in front of everyone.
Claire saw that too.
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For years, fear had protected her father.
Tonight, proof was beginning to do more.
