Chapter 4: Murder
Marcus called early the next morning.
"I found it." His voice was filled with excitement. "After the twenty million was transferred from Blackstone Holdings in the Cayman Islands, it went into another shell company, and then... you'd never guess."
"explain."
"Ultimately, the money flowed to a private bank in Zurich, Switzerland, to purchase a lakeside villa."
I gripped my phone tighter: "Under whose name is it registered?"
"Richard Shaw Jr."
I was stunned.
"Richard has an illegitimate child?"
"That seems to be the case," Marcus said. "I looked into this guy's background; he's thirty-two, has lived in Europe, and maintains contact with Richard but rarely appears in public."
Send me all the information.
"It's already been sent to your email."
After hanging up the phone, I turned on my computer.
The documents sent by Marcus contained detailed records of Richard Shaw Jr.'s personal information, bank accounts, and property registration records.
Each of these points leads to the same conclusion: Richard is transferring assets.
He knew Silvercrest was about to collapse, so he transferred the money to his illegitimate son's name in advance, preparing to abscond.
I took a screenshot for my records, and then called my mother.
"Mom, I need you to look at some documents."
Half an hour later, I appeared at the family office of Grant Investment Bank.
My mother, wearing her reading glasses, carefully reviewed the chain of evidence I had compiled.
"That bastard," she said, taking off her glasses. "He's not only cheating investors, he's also planning to abandon his daughter and run away."
What should we do?
The mother was silent for a few seconds: "This evidence is enough for the SEC to open an investigation, but not enough to put Richard in jail."
"Why?"
"Because he can claim it was his illegitimate son's own investment, unrelated to Silvercrest," the mother said. "You need more direct evidence to prove that the money came from a Ponzi scheme."
I stared at the document.
She's right.
The current evidence only proves that Richard transferred assets, but it cannot prove that the source of the money was illegal.
"I need to go to Zurich."
"when?"
"tonight."
The mother nodded. "I'll have James arrange a private jet. Be careful."
At nine o'clock that evening, I boarded the Grant family's private plane.
Catherine was waiting for me at the boarding gate.
What are you doing here?
"You think I'd let you go alone?" She raised an eyebrow. "I called Marcus, and he gave me all the information."
I looked at her without saying anything.
"Let's go," she said, boarding the plane first. "We have eight hours to make a plan."
After the plane took off, we sat in the cabin and reviewed all the information Marcus had provided.
"This villa was purchased three months ago and is registered under Richard Shaw Jr.'s name," Catherine said, pointing to the documents, "but there's also a co-owner's name on the property deed."
"who?"
"Richard's lawyer, John Parker."
I stared at that name.
John Parker, Silvercrest's legal counsel, is also Richard's most trusted confidant.
"If Parker was also involved in the asset transfer..."
"Then he's an accomplice," Catherine interjected, "and he definitely has more information than we do."
We looked at each other.
"what's on your mind?"
"I was thinking..." Catherine paused, ""what would Richard's lawyer do if he knew he was planning to run away?"
You mean…
"Trouble is most likely to arise when the spoils are divided unequally," she said. "We don't need to do anything ourselves; we just need to let Parker know that Richard is prepared to abandon him."
I looked at her.
This woman is ruthless.
How to do it?
"Once we have solid evidence," Catherine said, "I'll make the arrangements."
Eight hours later, the plane landed at Zurich Airport.
We drove directly to that lakeside villa.
The villa is located in an affluent area on the shores of Lake Zurich. It is a three-story detached building with a private dock and a meticulously manicured garden.
Instead of rushing in, we sat down at a nearby coffee shop and observed for the entire day.
As evening fell, a black sedan pulled up in front of the villa.
A man in his early thirties, dressed in a suit and tie, got off the bus.
"It's him." Catherine took out her phone and compared it to the photo Marcus had sent. "Richard Shaw Jr."
We watched him walk into the villa, and then come out half an hour later with a briefcase in his hand.
He got into the car and left, and we followed him.
His car eventually stopped in front of a private bank in downtown Zurich.
"He's transferring cash," I said.
"We need to take photos as evidence." Catherine raised her camera and took pictures of him entering and leaving the bank.
An hour later, Richard Shaw Jr. left the bank, his briefcase noticeably deflated.
We followed him back to the villa, and then returned to the hotel.
"That's enough." I imported the photos from the camera to the computer. "These photos, along with the bank statements, are enough to prove Richard was transferring funds from a Ponzi scheme."
Catherine nodded. "Now we can contact Parker."
Are you sure you want to do this?
"Do you have a better idea?" she asked back.
I fell silent.
She's right.
The evidence we have now can only prove that Richard is transferring assets, but it cannot directly prove that he is committing fraud.
To completely destroy Silvercrest, we need more direct evidence—such as Richard admitting it himself, or someone else testifying.
And Parker is the best breakthrough point.
"Okay," I said, "you arrange it."
The following evening, we flew back to New York.
Catherine didn't come back to the apartment with me; instead, she went straight to Blackwood's office.
The next morning, I received a message from her: "It's all sorted out."
"What's the meaning?"
"Parker is going to confront Richard tonight. I've installed recording equipment in Richard's law firm's conference room."
I stared at my phone screen.
When did you get it installed?
"last night."
How did you get in?
"The property management company for that building is among Blackwood's clients," she replied succinctly. "Don't ask for details."
I put down my phone.
This woman's execution ability is terrifying.
At 10 p.m. that night, Catherine and I were in the car, parked in the parking lot downstairs from Richard's law firm.
Catherine opened her laptop and brought up the recording and monitoring interface.
At 10:20, the sound of the conference room door opening was heard.
"John, what brings you here so late?" Richard's voice rang out.
"Richard, we need to talk." Parker's voice was cold.
What should we talk about?
"Tell me when you plan to flee."
The meeting room was silent for a few seconds.
What are you saying?
"Stop pretending," Parker sneered. "I know about that villa in Zurich. I know about your son's bank account too. Twenty million, all transferred, right?"
"John..."
"I've done all the dirty work for you for ten years, and now you think you can run away on your own?" Parker's voice rose. "I'm telling you, no way!"
"I didn't mean to run away! I just..."
"Just what? Just arranging a backup plan for your son?" Parker interrupted him. "What about me? What about my backup plan?"
"John, calm down..."
"Calm down?!" Parker roared. "Silvercrest won't last much longer, you know that! The SEC will find us sooner or later! And you're telling me to calm down?"
"I'll figure something out..."
"What plan? Scam another round of money?" Parker scoffed. "Richard, you've run out of money. The Grant family has cut ties completely, and all four major investment banks have refused to provide funding. Where else can you scam?"
The meeting room fell silent again.
"Give me half the money," Parker said. "Or I'll go to the SEC right now and confess everything you've done over the past ten years."
You dare!
"What do I have to be afraid of?" Parker sneered. "Since we're all going to die anyway, why should I let you escape alone?"
What followed was an argument, and then the sound of things being smashed.
"You want money, right?!" Richard roared. "I'll give it to you! I'll call my son right now and have him transfer half to you!"
"I don't believe you," Parker said, "unless..."
His words suddenly stopped.
Then came a muffled thud.
Immediately following was the sound of a heavy object falling to the ground.
"Richard? Richard!" Parker's voice turned terrified, "You... what's wrong with you?!"
Another burst of panicked sounds followed.
"Someone! Someone! Call an ambulance immediately!"
The recording was interrupted.
Catherine and I exchanged a glance.
"Something's happened."
We immediately got out of the car and rushed into the building.
When the elevator arrived at the floor where the conference room was located, several law firm staff members had already gathered in the corridor.
The conference room door was open. Parker was kneeling on the floor, with Richard lying motionless beside him.
"He suddenly had a heart attack..." Parker stammered, "I...I didn't touch him..."
The ambulance arrived quickly, but it was too late.
Richard is dead.
It wasn't an accident.
It was murder.
