Chapter 9 - ALLISON WANTED THE EMPIRE TOOI met Allison for the third time.
This time, no sympathy.
No shared-victim illusion.
“You wanted my shares.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because Bennett Hospitality should have been mine eight years ago.”
“That’s not an answer.”
She looked at me.
“I helped build it.”
Allison had worked inside the company during her marriage.
She restructured hotel operations.
Created the luxury division.
Negotiated international partnerships.
Then Daniel’s family pushed her out after she discovered the fraud.
“I wanted back what they took.”
“So you planned to take mine?”
“I planned to buy them.”
“With what money?”
She smiled bitterly.
“Money Harold helped hide.”
My stomach tightened.
“You worked with him.”
“At first.”
Again.
Always at first.
Harold helped Allison hide money from the Bennetts.
Later, she discovered he was using her too.
She began collecting evidence.
Dad contacted her.
They formed their own plan.
But Allison still wanted the company.
“Did you help kill my father?”
Her face hardened.
“No.”
“Did you know Harold threatened him?”
“Yes.”
“Did you warn Dad?”
“Yes.”
“Then why prepare a buyout before he died?”
“Because Thomas told me to.”
I froze.
“What?”
Allison produced an email.
Dad:
If Claire converts the note, offer to buy only if she wants out. Do not pressure her. I’d rather you control Bennett than Harold.
I read it twice.
Dad had considered Allison the lesser danger.
That did not make her innocent.
But it changed the story.
Then Allison showed another email.
Sent the morning Dad died.
Dad to Allison:
I found the payment. Harold isn’t working alone.
Attached:
Wire transfer.
$750,000.
Sender:
Bennett Family Office.
Recipient:
Harold Finch.
Authorized by:
Daniel Bennett.
I stared.
Daniel had paid Harold three days before Dad died.
I confronted him.
He did not deny the payment.
“It was legal fees.”
“For what?”
“The competency petition.”
My stomach turned.
“You paid him to prepare it before Dad died.”
“Yes.”
“Did you know he planned to target Dad?”
“No.”
“Why should I believe you?”
“You shouldn’t.”
That answer stopped me.
Daniel sat across from me.
“I kept telling myself I loved you.”
His voice broke.
“But every time loving you cost me something, I chose the company.”
I looked away.
“That isn’t love.”
“I know.”
For once, he did not argue.
Then he told police something devastating.
Harold called him the afternoon Dad died.
“What did he say?” I asked.
Daniel swallowed.
“He said the obstacle was gone.”
My skin went cold.
“What did you think he meant?”
“I knew exactly what he meant.”
Silence.
“You knew Dad was dead?”
“Yes.”
“Before I called you?”
“Yes.”
My heart shattered differently this time.
Daniel had held me that night.
Listened while I cried.
Promised my father would have loved our future.
And he already knew Harold considered Dad’s death useful.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
Daniel cried.
“Because I was afraid you’d leave.”
I stood.
“You were right.”
Then police entered.
Not for Daniel.
They had found Harold Finch.
He had been hiding inside one of Bennett Hospitality’s closed hotels.
But when officers entered the suite, Harold was unconscious.
Beside him was an empty medication bottle.
And on the table was a handwritten confession.
It said:
I killed Thomas Morgan alone.
Too convenient.
May you like
Because the final line read:
Daniel Bennett knew everything.
