Chapter 6: Ten Minutes
Genevieve looked at the folder.
She looked at Forsythe.
She looked at Julian.
Julian was watching her the way you watch something you used to trust and no longer do — not with hatred, but with a kind of careful distance, like he was making sure there was enough space between them.
"You could walk away," he said.
"Right now.
No police involvement.
No civil action.
The consulting agreement with Daniel gets dissolved today, in writing, through Forsythe's office.
You return anything belonging to this family — documents, copies, whatever Daniel has been holding.
And you leave."
"And if I don't?"
Forsythe answered.
"Then we file a complaint with the Serious Fraud Office this afternoon.
The financial records alone are sufficient to open an investigation.
The neurologist's letter — which, as you may not know, was obtained through a specialist who lost his license in 2021 and has been operating under a different name — becomes evidence of an additional offense." He removed his glasses and cleaned them with a cloth from his pocket.
"The Edinburgh alibi will also be relevant.
The restaurant in Mayfair has camera footage.
The maître d' remembers the booking.
It was made under Daniel Holt's account."
Genevieve was quiet for a long moment.
"I want immunity," she said.
"You are not in a position to negotiate immunity," Forsythe said.
"You are in a position to accept a private exit or a very public one."
"Daniel will not let this go quietly."
"Daniel," Meredith said, "has larger problems than this estate.
His fund has been under regulatory review for six weeks.
He doesn't know yet that we were the ones who provided the initial referral." She paused.
"He will, shortly."
Something moved across Genevieve's face.
Not fear exactly.
Recognition.
The moment when a person realizes they have been outmaneuvered not at the end but much, much earlier — and everything they thought was their advantage was already known.
"You let me come here today," she said slowly.
"You let me sit down.
You let me make my case."
"Yes," Meredith said.
"Because you needed me to present the envelope.
To confirm Daniel had the neurologist's report.
To confirm the consulting agreement was active." Genevieve exhaled.
"I handed you the last piece."
"You did," Meredith said.
Not unkindly.
Julian leaned forward.
"Genevieve.
Take the exit."
She looked at him for a long moment.
Whatever she had felt for him — whether any of it had been real, or whether it had always been a calculation dressed in silk — it was impossible to tell now.
Her face had gone very still.
"I'll need the terms in writing," she said.
"They're already prepared," Forsythe said, and turned to the second document in his briefcase.
Genevieve picked up the pen he offered.
Her hand did not shake.
She signed.
Set the pen down.
Stood.
"For what it's worth," she said to Meredith, "I didn't expect you."
"Most people don't," Meredith said.
Genevieve picked up her handbag.
She walked to the door of the sitting room without looking back.
Julian did not follow her.
The front door of the estate opened.
Then it closed.
Forsythe gathered his documents.
"I'll contact the SFO regarding Holt this afternoon.
The referral we submitted last month should be enough for them to move quickly now that the consulting agreement is confirmed."
"Thank you, Edward," Meredith said.
He nodded, snapped his briefcase shut, and left them alone.
The sitting room was very quiet.
Then Julian's phone buzzed on the arm of his chair.
He glanced at it.
Set it face-down.
"She'll warn him," he said.
"She'll try," Meredith said.
"But Daniel's phone has been under a production order since Tuesday.
Whatever she sends him, they'll have."
Julian looked at his sister.
"How long have you been running this?"
Meredith sat down in the chair across from him.
"Since Father showed me the recording.
Eight months ago."
He was quiet for a moment.
"You didn't tell me."
"No."
"Why?"
She looked at him steadily.
May you like
"Because you loved her.
And I needed you to let her finish."
