Mark walked over to the laptop, leaning down to watch the high-definition video playing on the screen.
The footage showed Evelyn standing in Mark's private study alongside a tall man in a dark leather jacket.
The man was holding a digital scanner, pointing it at Mark's wall safe hidden behind the oil painting.
Mark: Who the hell is that guy with her?!
Arthur: That's Marcus Vance. Your estranged cousin from Chicago.
Mark: Marcus?! What was Marcus doing inside my private home office?!
Arthur: Listen to the audio capture from the ceiling microphone, Mark.
Arthur turned up the volume on his laptop speakers, allowing the clear audio to fill the kitchen.
Evelyn: Did you find the combination code yet, Marcus?
Marcus: The digital lock uses an encrypted rolling code. I need ten more minutes with the bypass device.
Evelyn: Hurry up! The maid will be back from the grocery store in twenty minutes!
Marcus: Once we get the original stock certificates for Vance Logistics, we can file the transfer papers in Delaware.
Evelyn: Just make sure Mark doesn't suspect anything until after the corporate merger next month!
Mark slammed his fist onto the marble counter, his face turning bright red with rage.
Mark: They were trying to steal my company stock certificates!
Arthur: They weren't just trying to abuse Maya, Mark. Evelyn married you specifically to help Marcus gain access to your private safe!
Mark: My cousin hired her to infiltrate my house!
Arthur: It appears that way. They've been planning this corporate takeover for months.
Mark: Is my safe compromised, Arthur?! Did they get the stock certificates?!
Arthur: Let's check the safe right now. Follow me to the study.
Mark told Maya to stay at the kitchen table with Sam while he and Arthur rushed down the hall into the study.
Mark swung the large oil painting aside, exposing the heavy steel keypad of the wall safe.
He punched in his eight-digit security code, and the heavy electronic lock clicked open with a soft beep.
Mark pulled open the thick steel door and looked inside the velvet-lined compartment.
The blue folder containing the original paper stock certificates for Vance Logistics was gone.
Mark: It's empty... They stole the stock certificates, Arthur!
Arthur: Call Detective Miller at the Dallas Police Department right now! This is industrial espionage and felony burglary!