Chapter 91: Thomas Grant

Thomas Grant had been more than a family friend. He had served as legal adviser to Louis's father, attended family holidays, and acted as one of the trustees managing assets after Louis's father died. Louis hadn't spoken to him in nearly four years, but as a child he had called him Uncle Thomas.

Freya understood immediately why the name affected him.

Derek began checking Victor's records. Thomas appeared beside several transfers from Ashford Holdings and had approved amendments that preserved Adrian's beneficiary access after Charles removed him from management.

"Could those approvals have been legitimate?" Freya asked.

"At the time, yes," Louis said. "Adrian still had legal rights to parts of the family trust."

Victor's notes suggested something darker. He believed Thomas had quietly warned Adrian whenever Charles's investigation approached certain accounts.

There was still no direct proof.

Louis refused to call Thomas.

Instead, Derek checked current records. Thomas was now a partner at a private wealth-management firm. One of its clients was a trust ultimately benefiting Adrian Stone.

Freya leaned over the table. "That's not exactly comforting."

"No," Louis said.

The SUV from the warehouse had also produced a lead. The investigator followed it to a parking structure, where the occupants changed vehicles. One license plate from the second vehicle belonged to a security contractor previously hired by Greyline.

Victor had been right about being followed.

But by whom remained uncertain.

Near dawn, Freya finally forced Louis to leave Northstar.

"You've been staring at documents for hours. You're not going to become smarter by passing out on them."

"I can sleep here."

"No."

Derek raised both hands. "I'm staying out of the marital dispute."

"There is no dispute," Freya said. "He's coming home."

Louis actually obeyed.

At the apartment, Freya made noodles while he sat quietly at the table.

"You trusted Thomas," she said.

"My father did."

"That's not what I asked."

Louis looked at her. "Yes."

Freya placed the bowl in front of him. "Then don't decide he's guilty tonight."

He gave a tired smile. "You keep giving me my own advice."

"Someone has to."

Louis ate several bites before saying, "When my father died, Thomas helped me understand the trust structures. If Adrian kept access through those trusts, Thomas would have known."

"Knowing and helping are different."

"Sometimes."

Freya sat beside him rather than across from him.

She didn't offer empty reassurance. She simply remained there while he processed the possibility that another person from his family circle might have betrayed him.

Eventually Louis rested his hand over hers.

The gesture was quiet and tired, nothing like their kiss by the river.

Freya squeezed his fingers.

Whatever Thomas Grant had done, Louis wouldn't have to discover it alone.

Before sleeping, Louis searched an old photo archive and found Thomas standing beside his father at a birthday dinner. He closed the image almost immediately. Freya saw enough to understand. Betrayal from a competitor could become anger. Betrayal from someone woven into childhood became grief first. She said nothing and simply stayed beside him until he finally put the phone away.