Chapter 14 - The Money Trail
The trust had not been emptied.
But 12.4 million dollars had moved through a chain of emergency medical vendors using approvals that appeared to come from Victor.
Again, the signature was forged.
This time, however, the transfers happened after Helena’s arrest.
“That means someone is still operating,” Marcus said.
Victor looked at Daniel.
Daniel had been released from the hospital and returned under guard to help investigators.
“Serena’s father?” Victor asked.
Daniel shook his head. “He can move money, but he can’t create internal approvals. Somebody inside Blackwood Holdings is helping him.”
Clara sat at the end of the conference table with Ethan asleep against her shoulder.
She noticed a vendor name.
Bright Steps Pediatric Mobility.
“I know that company.”
Everyone looked at her.
“They donated equipment to the children’s center where I worked before I came here.”
Marcus searched the address.
The company existed only on paper.
Its registered agent was a law firm used by Blackwood chief financial officer Martin Shaw.
Victor leaned back slowly.
“Martin has been with me for fifteen years.”
Clara said quietly, “So had Daniel.”
The reminder landed hard.
Victor did not argue.
They audited Martin’s office.
The money trail led to offshore accounts tied to Helena, Serena’s father, and Martin.
But the most disturbing discovery was not financial.
Inside Martin’s locked drawer, Marcus found a file on Clara.
Her address.
Her brother’s workplace.
Her mother’s medical history.
And photographs of Clara walking Ethan in the park.
On the final page was a typed instruction:
IF RUIZ REMAINS AFTER VALE REMOVAL, DIScredit THROUGH THEFT.
Victor’s face went pale with rage.
Clara took the paper from him.
“What were they going to say I stole?”
Marcus opened another envelope.
Inside was Naomi’s diamond bracelet.
The bracelet Victor had reported missing eighteen months earlier.
They had planned to put it in Clara’s room.
May you like
Then a fire alarm sounded on the executive floor.
Martin Shaw’s office was burning.
