Chapter 5 - THE TRUST
Christopher refused to explain until security moved us to another location.
We drove to an office tower downtown.
His office occupied the top two floors.
No company logos.
No receptionist downstairs.
Only private elevators and men in suits who knew exactly who was allowed inside.
I stood at the window overlooking Phoenix.
Christopher placed an old folder on the table.
“Your grandfather created the Meridian Trust thirty-nine years ago.”
“My grandfather?”
“My father.”
I had met him twice before he died.
He had been kind.
Quiet.
My mother disliked him.
“How much is in it?”
Christopher hesitated.
“Today?”
“Yes.”
“About eighty-six million dollars.”
I laughed.
Not because it was funny.
Because my brain refused to accept the number.
“Eighty-six million?”
“Yes.”
“And what does that have to do with me?”
“You are the beneficiary.”
I stared at him.
“What?”
“The trust transfers fully to you at forty.”
My birthday was six weeks away.
Everything inside me went cold.
“Chad knows.”
Christopher nodded.
“He knows something.”
“Enough.”
“Yes.”
I turned away.
My entire marriage rearranged itself in my head.
The sudden interest in my childhood.
The questions about my father.
The pressure to update our estate plan.
The life insurance policies Chad kept suggesting.
I grabbed the edge of the desk.
“Was he planning to kill me?”
Christopher did not answer quickly enough.
“Oh God.”
“Genevieve—”
“Was he?”
“We don't know.”
My hands shook.
“If I died, who gets the trust?”
“It depends when.”
“After forty?”
“If you were married and had not changed the beneficiary structure, a significant portion could flow into your estate.”
“To Chad.”
“Possibly.”
“And Toby.”
“Yes.”
I closed my eyes.
Chad didn’t need me in prison forever.
He needed me discredited.
Separated from Toby.
Financially isolated.
Then maybe dead.
Naomi entered carrying a laptop.
“We found something.”
She connected the screen.
A series of emails appeared.
Martin Hale had used an encrypted messaging service.
Most messages were deleted.
Not all.
One read:
G will be out of the picture before the birthday. Make sure the custody issue is resolved first.
I couldn't breathe.
Another:
Once C believes she is guilty, we move on M.
Christopher leaned forward.
“C?”
Naomi looked at him.
“Probably you.”
“And M?”
“We think Meridian.”
I stared at the screen.
“Who sent them?”
“Account registered under an alias.”
“Victor?”
“Possibly.”
A knock came at the door.
Christopher's attorney entered.
“Genevieve, family court filed an emergency custody order thirty minutes ago.”
My stomach dropped.
“Chad?”
“He is requesting sole legal and physical custody of Toby.”
“On what grounds?”
“Your conviction.”
“My conviction is under review!”
“It still exists.”
I grabbed my purse.
“Where’s Toby?”
“At the townhouse.”
“With Chad?”
“And Brenda.”
“No.”
Christopher stood.
“Genevieve.”
“No.”
“Do not give Chad what he wants.”
“My son is in that house.”
His expression softened.
“If you violate the temporary court restrictions, Chad will use it against you.”
“I don't care.”
“You will when he gets permanent custody.”
That stopped me.
The attorney continued.
“There’s a hearing tomorrow morning.”
I turned toward him.
“Can I speak?”
“Yes.”
“Good.”
Christopher frowned.
“What are you thinking?”
I looked at the forged power of attorney.
Then the financial transfers.
Then the custody filing.
“Chad wants a judge to believe I’m a criminal?”
“Yes.”
“Then tomorrow I’m going to make him explain how a supposedly broke husband bought Brenda a seventy-thousand-dollar car three days after I was arrested.”
Naomi looked up.
“You know about that?”
“I didn't.”
I held up Chad’s social media photograph.
“But Brenda just posted it.”
May you like
And on her wrist was a bracelet I recognized immediately.
It belonged to me.
