Chapter 6 - THE TRUST
Eleanor’s silence confirmed it.
Claire saw it too.
“Interesting,” she said.
Joe stepped forward.
“There is no trust.”
His mother turned sharply.
“Be quiet, Joseph.”
That was the first time all night Eleanor had sounded afraid.
Claire smiled.
“Now I’m very interested.”
Mark Delaney backed toward the door.
A police officer stopped him.
“Sir, we need everyone involved to remain available for questions.”
“I’m not involved.”
Tommy pointed at him.
“You’re literally on the recording.”
Mark closed his eyes.
Despite everything, I almost laughed.
Claire pulled me aside.
“Did Joe’s father ever mention estate documents?”
“Richard?”
“Yes.”
“He died six years ago.”
“Did he ever give you anything?”
I thought back.
Richard Vance had been nothing like his wife.
Quiet.
Practical.
A little intimidating.
But kind to Tommy.
Especially when Tommy was sick.
Then I remembered something.
“A letter.”
Claire’s eyes sharpened.
“What letter?”
“After Richard died, his attorney gave me an envelope. Joe told me it was just a personal note.”
“Do you still have it?”
“I think so.”
“Where?”
“Home safe.”
Joe was watching us.
He knew.
I could see it.
“You read it,” I said.
His expression changed.
Claire looked from him to me.
“He read what?”
“The letter.”
Joe scoffed.
“You’re guessing.”
“No. I’m finally paying attention.”
Tommy stepped beside me.
“Grandpa Richard liked Mom more than Dad.”
“Tommy,” I said.
“What? He did.”
Eleanor snapped, “Your grandfather adored Joseph.”
Tommy looked at her.
“He told me Dad was an idiot.”
David coughed to hide a laugh.
Eleanor’s face turned purple.
Claire leaned toward me.
“We need that letter.”
Then Tracy spoke.
“I might know what the trust is.”
Everyone turned.
Joe’s voice dropped.
“Tracy.”
She ignored him.
“He talked about it when he drank.”
“What did he say?”
“He said his father screwed him from the grave.”
Joe’s fists tightened.
Tracy continued.
“He said Richard put a block on the company shares.”
Claire nodded slowly.
“A testamentary voting trust.”
Tracy shrugged.
“I don’t know what that means.”
“It means Richard may have separated economic ownership from control.”
Joe stepped toward her.
“You need to stop talking.”
Tracy backed away.
“Why? Are you going to lie to me again?”
“You think she cares about you?”
He pointed at me.
“She’ll destroy you too.”
I looked at Tracy.
“No.”
Joe laughed.
“You expect her to believe that?”
I turned to Tracy.
“If those documents are what I think they are, you need your own lawyer. Not mine. Yours.”
She stared at me.
“Why are you helping me?”
“Because Leo didn’t choose any of this.”
Her face crumpled.
Joe looked disgusted.
“You’re unbelievable.”
“No, Joe. You just never understood the difference between kindness and weakness.”
Claire’s phone buzzed.
She read a message.
Then looked at me.
“My office pulled the probate filings.”
“And?”
“There is a trust.”
Joe went still.
Claire continued.
“Richard Vance placed forty-one percent of Vance Development’s voting power into a family trust.”
I swallowed.
“Who controls it?”
Claire looked directly at me.
“You do.”
The room tilted.
Joe exploded.
“That’s not true!”
Claire held up her phone.
“It activates if the acting CEO commits fraud against a beneficiary.”
She paused.
“And Sarah is the successor trustee.”
Eleanor sank into a chair.
For the first time, she looked old.
Then Mark Delaney whispered:
“Oh, God.”
Claire turned toward him.
Mark stared at Joe.
“You said she could never take control.”
Joe’s face hardened.
Mark shook his head.
“You lied to me too.”
Then he looked at the police officer.
“I want a lawyer.”
Joe grabbed him by the jacket.
“You keep your mouth shut.”
Two officers moved instantly.
Joe released him.
But Mark had already made his decision.
He pointed straight at Joe.
“The missing money was his idea.”
May you like
And then he added:
“But the money isn’t missing yet.”
