Chapter 15 - Adrian's Mother
Evelyn Cole arrived at the mansion before Adrian called her.
That alone told him enough.
She walked into the study wearing a gray suit and carrying no purse.
"Where is Sophie?"
"Safe."
"Good."
Adrian held up Claire's board records.
"Why did you approve Graham's vendors?"
Evelyn's expression did not change.
"Because he presented them as legitimate."
"All thirty-two?"
"I trusted him."
"Claire didn't."
"Claire distrusted everyone."
Adrian slammed his palm on the desk.
"Stop saying that."
Evelyn flinched.
He had never raised his voice at her.
"Claire was right."
Evelyn looked toward the hidden room.
"So you found it."
Adrian stared.
"You knew?"
Her eyes closed.
"Yes."
Sophie's hand tightened around his.
"You knew my mom was scared?"
Evelyn looked at her granddaughter.
"I knew she suspected theft."
"Did you know about the car?"
"No."
Adrian searched her face.
"Are you lying?"
"No."
"Thomas?"
"I knew he was taking money."
"And you protected him."
Evelyn's voice cracked.
"He was my brother-in-law."
"He helped kill Claire."
"I didn't know!"
Her control finally broke.
"I covered financial fraud. I did not cover murder."
Adrian felt sick.
"You covered enough to make them brave."
Evelyn lowered her head.
That landed.
Daniel entered with new records from Claire's archive.
"Adrian."
"What?"
"The shell companies weren't just stealing from Sophie's trust."
"How much?"
"Over sixty million across eight years."
Evelyn went white.
Daniel continued.
"And some of the money went into political donations, private settlements, and accounts tied to judges."
Ortiz stepped in behind him.
"This is bigger than your family."
Adrian looked at his mother.
"Did you know?"
"No."
This time he believed her.
Then Evelyn whispered:
"Thomas called me last night."
Everyone froze.
"What did he say?"
"He said if I helped him leave the country, he would tell police I ordered everything."
"Did you help him?"
"No."
"Where is he?"
Evelyn hesitated.
Adrian's voice hardened.
"Mom."
She looked at Sophie.
Then at him.
"The old Cole Foundation gala is tonight."
Daniel frowned.
"The gala was canceled."
Evelyn shook her head.
"Not the private one."
Adrian understood.
"He'll be there?"
"He said he wanted the one thing Claire never found."
"What?"
Evelyn swallowed.
"The master ledger."
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From the doorway, Sophie whispered:
"I know where it is."
