Chapter 12 - FOLLOW THE MONEY
Victoria refused to answer.
That was answer enough.
By eight thirty, Richard had called the family attorney.
By nine, the attorney was standing in the storage unit reading the trust documents.
His expression grew darker with every page.
“This trust held approximately eight hundred thousand dollars when Rebecca died.”
Ethan stared.
“Eight hundred thousand?”
“In 1996.”
Maya did the math in her head.
With investments, it could have grown dramatically.
“What happened to it?” Ethan asked.
The attorney looked at Richard.
“You truly didn’t know?”
“No.”
“There should have been annual statements.”
“I never saw any.”
Victoria sat on an old wooden chest.
Her face looked empty.
The attorney turned to her.
“Victoria?”
She stared at the floor.
Ethan’s voice cracked.
“You stole from me.”
“I used some of it.”
“How much?”
“It paid for your life.”
“What?”
“Schools. Camps. Travel. Your first car.”
Richard stared at her.
“We paid for those things.”
Victoria finally looked up.
“No, you thought we did.”
Richard’s face hardened.
“You moved money?”
“I managed the household.”
“You forged my name?”
“Sometimes.”
The attorney stepped back.
“This conversation needs to stop.”
Victoria laughed.
“Now you’re worried about legal boundaries?”
“I’m worried because what you’re describing may involve fraud, misappropriation of trust assets, and forgery.”
Ethan looked sick.
“How much is left?”
Victoria said nothing.
Maya stepped forward.
“How much?”
Victoria’s eyes flashed.
“This does not concern you.”
Maya almost smiled.
“You tried to frame me for cheating because you were afraid my father knew your secrets. You created a fake ID in my name. You hired a man to set me up. You talked about drugging me.”
Her voice sharpened.
“You made it my concern.”
Victoria stood.
“You think you won?”
“I’m not playing.”
“Oh, yes, you are.”
Ethan stepped between them.
“Stop.”
Victoria pointed at Maya.
“She walked into this family and pulled everything apart.”
“No,” Ethan said quietly.
Everyone looked at him.
“You built everything on lies. She just happened to turn on the light.”
Victoria flinched.
Ethan took off his watch.
The expensive gold watch Victoria had given him for his thirtieth birthday.
He placed it on the chest beside her.
“I don’t want anything from you.”
Her mouth opened.
“Ethan—”
“Not the house. Not the family money. Nothing.”
“I raised you.”
“Yes.”
His eyes filled.
“And that’s what makes this hurt.”
Victoria’s face broke.
For a moment, Maya saw something human in her.
Then Victoria reached for her purse.
The attorney noticed.
“Victoria, don’t leave.”
“Get out of my way.”
“You may want to speak with counsel.”
“I said move.”
She pushed past him.
Maya watched her go.
Something felt wrong.
Too easy.
Victoria had lost control of her family, her secrets, her money.
A desperate person with nothing left to protect could be dangerous.
Maya looked toward the open storage unit.
One box near the back was missing.
She remembered seeing it when they entered.
A small black case.
Now it was gone.
“Ethan.”
He turned.
“What?”
“Your mother took something.”
Richard frowned.
“What?”
Maya pointed toward the empty space.
“I don’t know.”
Then Caroline called.
Maya answered.
Caroline didn’t say hello.
“Maya, where are you?”
“Storage facility. Why?”
“You need to get to the wedding venue.”
Maya’s stomach dropped.
“Why?”
Caroline’s voice shook.
“Because Victoria is here.”
Maya looked at Ethan.
May you like
Caroline continued.
“And she’s setting the place on fire.”
