Chapter 7 - THE SEVENTH NAME
The rest of the day passed in a blur. Julian was formally arrested and charged with conspiracy, fraud, and attempted murder. Reporters gathered outside the gates. Phone calls came from board members, relatives, and friends—all expressing shock, all asking questions no one could answer.
But Julian’s final words haunted David.
*Seven names. And I am only number three.*
That meant four others remained. Four conspirators. Four people who still intended to work their way down the list.
That evening, Margaret called David and Sophie into the study. She spread the list across the desk.
“Let us look at this logically,” she said. “Seven names. Julian admitted he is number three. Which means two people stand above him. And four remain below.”
She tapped the paper.
“Margaret. David. Sophie. Julian. My cousin Edward. The lawyer, Mr. Calloway. And the head of security, Arthur.”
Margaret looked up.
“Julian was number three. Which means the first three targets were me, David, and Sophie.”
David frowned. “But Julian was the third name. Why would he be on the list at all?”
“Because he was always meant to be eliminated too,” Margaret said quietly. “Once the others finished using him… he became a liability. Just like Rachel.”
Margaret leaned forward.
“Which means the remaining conspirators are among the last four names on this list. Edward. Mr. Calloway. Arthur. And Julian himself—who was meant to be killed third.”
Sophie looked at the names.
“But Uncle Julian said there were others,” she said. “More than one.”
“Yes,” Margaret said. “Which means at least two of these remaining people are working together.”
David looked at the list.
“Edward is family,” he said. “He has always been loyal.”
“Loyalty can be bought,” Margaret said. “And Edward has debts. Large ones. I did not speak of it before, but I knew. I was helping him quietly.”
She tapped the next name.
“Mr. Calloway. He has handled our affairs for twenty years. He drafted my will. He holds every secret of this family.”
“And Arthur,” David said. “He has been head of security for twelve years. He was the one who installed the cameras. He was the one who said the footage was corrupted.”
Margaret looked at him.
“Exactly.”
Silence filled the room.
“All three have access,” Margaret said. “All three have opportunity. And all three have reasons we may not yet know.”
She folded the paper carefully.
“We cannot accuse them without proof. But we cannot trust them either. From this moment on… we watch everyone. We trust no one. And we wait for the next move.”
Margaret looked at Sophie.
“You are the seventh name,” she said quietly. “The final target. Which means… they intend to save you for last.”
Sophie went pale.
“Why me?”
“Because you are the heir,” Margaret said. “If all six of us are gone… you inherit everything. And if something happens to you too… then the fortune passes to whoever stands next in line.”
Margaret looked at David.
“Edward stands next in line. If something happens to Sophie… Edward inherits.”
David stared.
“Edward?”
“Unless Edward is also removed,” Margaret said. “Then it falls to the grandchildren of a distant cousin. But that is messy. Challenging. Expensive. Which means… Edward has the most to gain from Sophie’s death.”
“But Mr. Calloway handles the will,” David said. “And Arthur controls the security.”
Margaret nodded slowly.
“Which means they may all be working together. Edward for the inheritance. Calloway to rewrite the documents. Arthur to ensure no one survives.”
Margaret stood up.
“Three conspirators. Four remaining targets. And we do not know which ones are guilty.”
May you like
She looked at them both.
“Be careful. Everywhere. At all times. Because the person standing beside you… may be the one waiting for you to die.”
