Chapter 8: What Marcus Did
Charlotte had Gerald pull Marcus Vale's financial records by noon.
It took less than two hours to find what she was looking for.
Marcus had received three wire transfers from a holding company called Ashcroft Capital Partners over the previous fourteen months.
The first transfer came four weeks after Charlotte's mother passed.
The second came the month Charlotte had first contacted Daniel Frey about the estate.
The third came six weeks ago — the same week Marcus had reached out to Charlotte with his offer to help.
Gerald laid the bank records on the conference table without comment.
Charlotte looked at them for a long moment.
"He was being paid to watch me," she said.
"And to provide a statement questioning your mother's mental capacity." Gerald set a second document beside the bank records.
"This is a draft affidavit.
It was emailed from Marcus's personal account to the Ashcroft Group's legal team eleven days ago.
It states that in the final months of her life, your mother showed signs of confusion, memory loss, and susceptibility to manipulation."
"None of that is true."
"No.
But it was designed to support their lawsuit's first argument — that she lacked capacity when she inserted the reversion clause." Gerald looked at her.
"He also names you specifically.
He states that you had been estranged from your mother for years and that she had expressed doubt about whether you would be a suitable heir."
Charlotte's jaw tightened.
"She never said that."
"I know.
I spoke with her weekly for nineteen years." Gerald's voice was steady, but there was something underneath it — a quiet anger held carefully in check.
"She spoke of you constantly.
She was proud of you.
She was protecting you."
Charlotte stood up and walked to the window.
Below, the city moved at its ordinary pace.
Taxis.
Pedestrians.
A delivery truck double-parked on the corner.
None of it aware of what was happening fourteen floors above.
"Can we use the bank records?" she asked.
"As evidence of a financial relationship between Marcus and the Ashcroft Group, yes.
Combined with the affidavit and the timing of his outreach to you, it builds a strong picture of coordinated interference." Gerald paused.
"But there is something more direct."
Charlotte turned around.
"Marcus signed the affidavit.
But he made a mistake." Gerald held up the draft document.
"He references a specific conversation he claims to have had with your mother in her final weeks.
A conversation in which she allegedly expressed doubt about you." He set the document down.
"Your mother was in hospital during the dates he cites.
She had no visitors except her medical team and one person."
"Who?"
"You." Gerald looked at her steadily.
"You flew in for four days.
The hospital has visitor logs.
Your mother's physician — Dr.
Marsh — was present for two of those visits.
Marcus was never there.
He couldn't have had that conversation.
He fabricated it entirely."
The room was quiet.
Charlotte walked back to the table.
Sat down.
Looked at the affidavit.
Then she picked up her phone and called Marcus.
He answered on the third ring.
"Charlotte.
I've been trying to reach you.
I heard what happened at the hotel — are you all right?"
"I'm fine," she said.
"I need to see you.
Today."
A short pause.
"Of course.
Where?"
"The Solmere.
Conference room on fourteen." She kept her voice warm.
Easy.
"I could use your support right now, Marcus.
This lawsuit has me rattled."
"I'll be there," he said.
"Whatever you need."
She ended the call and set the phone face-down on the table.
Gerald was watching her.
"He's coming," she said.
"What do you want to do when he arrives?"
Charlotte looked at the bank records.
The affidavit.
The visitor logs from the hospital.
Dr.
Marsh's statement, which had arrived by courier an hour ago, notarized and signed.
May you like
"I want him to sit down," she said.
"And I want him to lie to my face one more time."
