Chapter 5 - What Martin Saw
Martin Hale refused to speak without immunity discussions.
That told Adrian plenty.
Innocent family lawyers usually did not begin conversations by negotiating criminal exposure.
Federal authorities became involved after evidence suggested fraudulent financial instructions crossed state lines.
Adrian did not care which agency held which file.
He cared about Schedule B.
He cared about Celeste.
Charles.
Martin.
And why his mother had nearly been killed.
Martin finally agreed to a limited proffer.
Adrian was not allowed in the room.
Nadia received a summary afterward.
“What did he say?”
She closed the door.
“Charles approached him four years ago about restructuring the Legacy Reserve.”
“Why?”
“Charles believed Jonathan's original terms were obsolete.”
“Meaning?”
“The trust had become too valuable.”
“That isn't a reason.”
“No.”
“What did Charles want?”
“Broader investment authority.”
“Did Martin agree?”
“At first.”
Adrian's jaw tightened.
“Then?”
“He approved amendments.”
“Legal?”
“Some.”
“Some?”
“Others appear to have exceeded the powers granted to the protector.”
Adrian stood.
“How much money moved?”
Nadia hesitated.
“Potentially more than ninety million dollars.”
He stared.
“Where?”
“Affiliated investment vehicles.”
“Charles's?”
“Some connected indirectly.”
“He stole ninety million dollars?”
“We are not using that word yet.”
“I am.”
Nadia allowed the anger to pass.
“Eleanor's refusal to sign the collateral substitution threatened to expose the earlier transactions.”
There it was.
Not house jealousy.
Not romantic rivalry.
Evidence.
“If lenders conducted full trust diligence, they'd see prior movements.”
“Yes.”
“And Charles needed the credit facility?”
“Possibly to refinance or cover them.”
Adrian understood.
Use a new legitimate transaction to hide older illegitimate ones.
His acquisition became cover.
“What was Celeste's role?”
Nadia looked toward the window.
“Martin says Charles met her before you did.”
Adrian went still.
“What?”
“Approximately nine months before your first date.”
Impossible.
Adrian met Celeste at a charity auction.
She had been introduced by a museum board member.
Random.
Natural.
Apparently not.
“How?”
“Charles attended a private fundraiser where Celeste worked in donor relations.”
“Then?”
“He stayed in contact.”
“Why?”
“Martin claims Charles thought you needed someone who could influence you.”
Adrian almost laughed.
“Influence me into what?”
“Marriage.”
The word landed.
Celeste had not simply happened to enter Adrian's life.
She had been placed near him.
Maybe not ordered to seduce him from day one.
But positioned.
Encouraged.
Supported.
“He chose my fiancée.”
“Possibly.”
“Did Celeste know?”
“Yes.”
Every memory changed.
First dinner.
First weekend.
Her interest in family traditions.
Her questions about his father.
Her sudden affection for Eleanor.
The engagement.
All contaminated.
“Did she love me?”
Nadia did not answer.
Fair.
No lawyer could.
“What did Charles promise her?”
“Martin says access to a marital trust after the wedding.”
“Two hundred million.”
“Likely.”
“And temporary trustee power?”
“Yes.”
“What did Celeste promise Charles?”
“Help obtaining signatures.”
“And Eleanor's incapacity.”
“Eventually.”
Adrian felt sick.
“Eventually?”
“Martin says the initial plan was documentation.”
“What documentation?”
“Medical.”
The fake memory problems.
Celeste had been laying groundwork.
But she could not diagnose Eleanor herself.
“Who helped?”
Nadia's expression changed.
“That is the next problem.”
Adrian already knew he wasn't going to like the name.
“Who?”
“Dr. Henry Vale.”
Eleanor's physician.
For twelve years.
Family friend.
The man who managed her blood pressure medication.
Adrian thought of Celeste's threat by the pool.
One medication mistake.
One accident.
His stomach turned.
“Was he involved?”
“Martin says he signed cognitive observations for Charles.”
“Real?”
“Some based on information from Celeste.”
“She manufactured symptoms and Henry documented them.”
“Yes.”
“Did he alter Mom's medication?”
“We don't know.”
Adrian left the room.
He called the hospital nurse.
“Do not allow Dr. Henry Vale access to my mother.”
Then he called Marcus.
“Find everything on Henry.”
“Already started.”
Adrian paused.
“Anything?”
“Yes.”
“What?”
“A $75,000 consulting payment from Blackwood Family Office six months ago.”
Adrian closed his eyes.
The conspiracy now included:
His fiancée.
His uncle.
His mother's physician.
The family lawyer.
And perhaps others.
“What about Schedule B?”
Nadia returned.
“Martin says he doesn't have it.”
“Who does?”
“He claims Jonathan hid the original.”
“Where?”
“He doesn't know.”
“Convenient.”
“He did say one thing.”
“What?”
“Jonathan told him that if anyone ever tried changing the successor beneficiary, Eleanor would know where to look.”
Adrian turned toward his mother's hospital room.
Eleanor.
Again.
Always Eleanor.
May you like
The seventy-eight-year-old woman everyone had begun describing as confused.
The one person his father trusted enough to hold the final key.
