Chapter 9 - THE MONEY TRAIL
Cameron had hired Victor Shaw fourteen years earlier.
Victor knew his passwords, his investments, and which calls could interrupt a meeting.
He also knew where Cameron kept the emergency envelope containing Lily’s childhood medical records.
“Don’t call him,” Marcus said.
“Let him think we’re still chasing Judith.”
Cameron looked through the conference-room window.
Eva was speaking with the investigator.
“Ten years.
How many people does it take to hide a child for ten years?”
“Fewer than you think,” Marcus replied.
“If each person only sees the piece they’re paid to handle.”
Ruth contacted the authorities investigating the records.
Marcus submitted the storage footage and asked the facility to preserve it.
Elena began gathering Hale Capital’s legitimate financial records under Ruth’s direction.
Victor had described recurring payments as executive security expenses.
They went to a holding company.
The company paid Briar House.
Another stream went to Judith.
Cameron stared at the amounts.
He had financed his daughter’s disappearance.
With money he believed was protecting his family.
Elena found a folder labeled C.H. Personal Exposure.
Inside was a scanned letter from Caroline to Graham.
It had been written four days before the crash.
I found the accounts.
Cameron needs to know.
You have until Friday to tell him yourself.
Cameron read it three times.
His wife had worked part-time with the family foundation.
He remembered her saying some grant reports didn’t add up.
He had told her to ask Graham.
He closed his eyes.
Marcus waited until he opened them.
“This tells us there was a financial motive.
It doesn’t tell us what caused the crash.”
“I know.”
He said it again, making himself hear it.
“I know.”
They would prove what they could prove.
That afternoon, the laboratory called Ruth.
The preliminary parentage result was conclusive.
Eva Bennett was Cameron Hale’s biological daughter.
Cameron went to the cottage with Ruth and the investigator.
Eva listened without speaking.
May you like
Then she asked one question.
“If I’m really your daughter, who was buried with my mother?”
