Chapter 65: The Man by the Sea

Martin Vale had been living quietly in a coastal town for almost six years. Derek's investigation found no suspicious business activity, unusual transfers, or recent contact with Victor Shaw. The retired attorney spent most of his time between a small legal consultancy, a fishing club, and the house he shared with his wife.

That ordinary routine made approaching him slightly safer, but Louis still refused to call. "If Victor monitors old contacts, a sudden message from me would be obvious."

Freya looked at the address. "What about me?"

Louis immediately understood. Martin had handled her parents' estate. A visit from Freya could be explained as a family matter.

"You're not going alone," he said.

"I wasn't planning to."

They traveled two days later under the excuse of taking a short weekend break. Derek remained in the city to monitor Victor and Northstar. Freya found the entire arrangement absurdly dramatic for a meeting with a retired lawyer.

Martin's office overlooked a narrow harbor. When Freya entered, the elderly man stared at her for several seconds before standing.

"Freya Stone."

"Mr. Vale."

His gaze moved to Louis, and surprise became caution. "I heard about Stone Holdings."

Louis replied politely, "Most people did."

Martin invited them inside. Freya began with the truth. She had recently gone through her parents' stored records and found documents involving Stonebridge Development Services.

Martin's face changed at the company name.

"Why are you looking into that?"

"Because it appeared in something connected to Louis's business problems."

Martin slowly removed his glasses. "I hoped that company would stay buried."

Freya exchanged a glance with Louis.

Martin explained that after her parents died, he had been responsible for closing several small entities. Stonebridge should have been dissolved, but Victor Shaw personally contacted him and claimed an unresolved partnership obligation required it to remain active.

"Did you transfer control to him?" Louis asked.

"Not directly. To an administrative company his office recommended."

Martin looked ashamed. "At the time, Victor was trusted by both families. I had no reason to question him."

Freya placed a copy of the old authorization on the desk. "This signature is yours?"

"Yes."

"Did Victor ever explain what the company was used for afterward?"

"No. I asked once. He told me the matter had been settled."

Martin hesitated before adding, "Your father didn't trust him near the end."

Freya's pulse quickened. "Why?"

"He believed Victor was moving money through development projects. Charles Stone believed the same thing."

That matched the recording.

Before they left, Martin opened an old cabinet and removed a sealed envelope. "Your father gave me this shortly before the accident. He said if anything happened, I should give it to you when you were old enough to understand it."

Freya stared at the envelope bearing her name.

"Why didn't you?"

Martin's expression tightened. "Because after your parents died, Victor told me the accusations had been proven false. I believed him."

Freya accepted the envelope with cold fingers. Another piece of her inherited past had just returned to her, unopened for more than a decade.

On the walk back to the hotel, Freya kept the envelope inside her handbag rather than giving it to Louis for safekeeping. Whatever it contained had been written for her. Louis didn't ask to hold it. That small act of restraint reassured her more than any promise could have. He wanted the truth, but he understood that some parts of the truth still belonged to her first.

There were still too many unanswered questions to draw a final conclusion. Each discovery clarified one part of the past while exposing another missing piece. For now, they agreed to preserve what they had found, verify every connection carefully, and avoid giving Victor any reason to suspect that the old records had resurfaced.