Chapter 6 - The Eighteen Million
Daniel called the bank before Adrian could speak.
"Freeze the trust. Now."
He paced the foyer while a fraud officer transferred him twice.
Vanessa watched from the sofa.
Too calm again.
Adrian noticed.
"Who initiated it?"
Daniel covered the phone.
"They're tracing the credential."
Vanessa crossed one leg over the other.
"This has nothing to do with me."
Adrian laughed without humor.
"Of course not."
Daniel finally ended the call.
"The transfer was stopped."
Adrian exhaled.
"Who authorized it?"
Daniel's face tightened.
"Your electronic signature."
"I didn't sign anything."
"And a co-trustee authorization."
"Who?"
Daniel looked at Vanessa.
"Graham Steele."
Adrian's anger turned cold.
Adrian called him.
No answer.
Again.
Voicemail.
Vanessa stood.
"If this interrogation is over, I'm leaving."
Adrian nodded toward security.
"You're not taking anything."
Her mouth fell open.
"You can't search me."
"I can ask you to leave my property with only what security clears."
"This is humiliation."
"You pushed my daughter into a pool."
"I did not."
Sophie appeared again behind Maria.
"Yes, you did."
Vanessa spun toward her.
"You spoiled little--"
Adrian crossed the room so fast Vanessa stopped mid-sentence.
"Finish that sentence."
Vanessa stared at him.
Then smiled.
"You really think Claire was a saint?"
Adrian's jaw tightened.
"What does that mean?"
"She lied to you too."
"About what?"
Vanessa glanced at Sophie.
Daniel noticed.
"Don't."
But Vanessa wanted the damage.
She always did.
"Ask him why Claire changed Sophie's trust six months before she died."
Adrian looked at Daniel.
"What is she talking about?"
Daniel's silence was too long.
"Daniel?"
The attorney lowered his eyes.
"There was an amendment."
"You knew?"
"I knew there was one. Claire asked me to prepare it privately."
"What did it change?"
Daniel looked at Sophie.
"It removed you as the sole controller of the trust if Claire died."
Adrian felt punched.
"Why?"
"It created an independent protector."
"Who?"
Daniel answered softly.
"Claire's sister, Rachel Bennett."
Adrian stared.
Rachel had disappeared from their lives after the funeral.
Vanessa smiled.
"Now ask where Rachel is."
Adrian turned.
"Where is she?"
Vanessa picked up her coat.
"No one has seen her in eighteen months."
Sophie whispered, "I have."
Everyone looked at her.
May you like
Sophie pointed toward the teddy bear.
"Mommy's bear has her phone number inside the other ear."
