Chapter 7 - THE BROTHER THEY TRIED TO FRAME
Alexander Vale stared at the authorization bearing his name.
"I didn't sign that."
Nobody spoke.
Nora watched his face carefully.
She wanted to believe him.
More than anything.
But she'd spent the last few hours learning how dangerous it was to trust an answer simply because it came from someone she loved.
"Are you sure?"
Alexander looked at her.
The question hurt him.
She could see it.
But he didn't make her feel guilty for asking.
"Yes."
Nora nodded slowly.
"Then we find out who did."
For the first time that afternoon, something changed between them.
Alexander wasn't protecting Nora from the problem.
They were standing inside it together.
Ethan examined the accession record.
"The authorization appears to have been uploaded through an administrative account."
Mercer crossed his arms.
"School records are confidential."
Daniel looked at him.
"Then preserve them. We aren't asking you to publish student information."
Ethan nodded.
"The access history can be reviewed by an independent forensic examiner. There should be server records and approval trails."
Nora glanced at the empty watch display.
"What is so important about a watch?"
Henry approached the glass case.
"Maybe it isn't important because it's valuable."
"Then why take it?"
Henry looked at the small brass plaque.
"Mom used to tell me that Grandma Vale carried Dad's pocket watch after he died."
Nora's eyes widened.
Their father had died when she was very young.
She remembered his voice more than his face.
And one particular sound.
A soft, steady ticking whenever he held her on his lap.
She had forgotten that until this moment.
"That was Dad's?"
Henry nodded.
"I think so."
Nora pressed her fingertips against the glass.
"Why would someone steal his watch?"
Frederick examined the mounting marks.
"Possibly because something was stored with it."
He pointed to the rectangular outline where the watch had been displayed.
"The original exhibit box was deeper than necessary."
Mrs. Patterson retrieved the accession description.
"Silver pocket watch, engraved. Accompanied by a small leather presentation case and supporting papers."
Christopher looked up.
"Supporting papers?"
"That's what it says."
Nora's heart accelerated.
Her mother had left documents in her backpack.
A note with Mrs. Patterson.
And perhaps something with the watch.
She was leaving a trail.
Not because she wanted a dramatic reveal.
Because she'd known evidence could disappear.
"Can we see where the watch went?" Nora asked.
Mrs. Patterson opened the transfer record.
"The form says it was collected by a representative of Vale Holdings."
Alexander shook his head.
"None of my staff collected it."
Gabriel pulled out his phone.
"I'll ask our security office to preserve vehicle records and visitor logs from that date."
He stepped aside.
Nora watched him.
For years, Gabriel had been the brother who checked window locks twice and insisted on walking on the outside of the sidewalk.
She had often found it annoying.
Today, she understood.
Fear could make people controlling.
Or it could make them careful.
The difference was whether they still listened.
Celeste approached Nora.
She held the torn photograph with both hands.
"My father wants us to leave."
Nora studied her.
"Are you going?"
"I don't know."
"That's your choice."
Celeste looked almost surprised.
Then her expression crumpled.
"I thought you stole the bracelet."
Nora said nothing.
Celeste continued.
"At first, I did."
"What changed?"
Celeste looked down.
"Before the assembly, Mercer told me exactly which pocket it would be in."
Nora felt anger surge.
"You knew where it was?"
Celeste nodded.
"I thought he'd already searched your bag."
"Then why did you pretend to discover it?"
"Because he told me it would help protect my dad."
Nora stared at her.
"Protect him from what?"
Celeste's voice broke.
"He said your family was trying to destroy the foundation. He said if I exposed you, people would understand what your mother had done."
Nora looked toward Charles.
He stood beside a window, his shoulders bent.
For years, Celeste had apparently been told that the Vale family was responsible for her mother's suffering.
It didn't excuse what she had done.
But it explained why she'd been so eager to believe the worst.
"Celeste," Nora said, "you poured coffee over my head."
"I know."
"In front of people who were already laughing."
"I know."
"You don't get to make that disappear because someone lied to you."
Celeste nodded.
Tears slipped down her cheeks.
"Can I do anything?"
Nora thought carefully.
"Tell the truth."
Celeste looked toward the library door.
Then she nodded.
"I will."
Mrs. Patterson's voice interrupted.
"There's a second entry in the watch record."
She turned the monitor.
Two days after its supposed collection by Nora, the watch had been sent to an off-campus restoration company.
Henry leaned forward.
"Wait."
He read the name.
"Northfield Restorations?"
Nora looked at him.
"You know them?"
"They're one of my subcontractors."
Everyone turned.
Henry frowned.
"They do mechanical restorations for museums. I've sent antique clocks to them."
He took out his phone.
"I can check whether the company received the watch, but I won't ask them to hand over something that belongs in an evidence review."
Nora smiled faintly.
"Mom would be proud of that answer."
Henry looked at her.
"She'd probably tell me to stop using my phone at dinner."
For a moment, they shared a tiny piece of their old life.
Then Henry's expression changed.
"I know the owner. He retired last month."
"Who took over?" Alexander asked.
Henry scanned the company's public announcement.
"Samuel Price."
Christopher looked up sharply.
"The auditor?"
Henry nodded.
The same Samuel Price who had attended the meeting twelve years earlier.
The same man who'd remained with their mother after Elena Whitmore became ill.
Nora looked at the photograph again.
"What if he's been keeping the watch safe?"
"Or what if someone used his company to move it?" Daniel replied.
They needed answers.
Not guesses.
Gabriel returned.
"I spoke to our security team. The vehicle listed on the collection authorization wasn't one of ours."
Nora looked up.
"What was it?"
"A dark sedan registered to an outside transportation service."
"Who ordered it?"
Gabriel paused.
"The billing account belonged to Ashcroft Academy."
Mercer looked toward the door.
Charles stepped into his path.
"Richard."
Mercer stopped.
"Move."
"No."
Charles's voice had changed.
He looked at his daughter.
Then at Nora.
"I'm not letting you use another child to clean up this mess."
Mercer laughed bitterly.
"You think this ends with me?"
Charles said nothing.
Mercer pointed toward the school grounds.
"You want to know why the watch disappeared?"
Nora held her breath.
"Because the original ledger is inside its presentation case."
Christopher stepped forward.
"What ledger?"
Mercer's face twisted.
"The one Margaret Vale kept when she discovered the trust was losing money."
Nora stared.
"Where is it now?"
Mercer looked at Alexander.
"Ask your brother."
Alexander's eyes narrowed.
"I told you I didn't collect the watch."
Mercer smiled.
"I wasn't talking about you."
His gaze moved slowly across the eight brothers.
Then settled on Christopher.
May you like
And Nora saw something she had never seen before.
Christopher Vale looked afraid.
