Chapter 10 - The Name Thomas Ward|
Marcus recognized the name immediately.
He had seen it in old foundation records, buried among invoices and contractor reports. Thomas Ward had been a junior accountant who worked for the family business shortly before Evelyn died.
According to the official record, Thomas had resigned, relocated, and later died in an unrelated accident.
Marcus had never met him.
At least, that was what he had always believed.
Paige watched his face as he read the message.
“You know who he is.”
“I know the name.”
“Then start talking.”
Marcus rubbed his forehead.
“My father hired him to help reconcile the foundation's accounts. He was young, meticulous, and apparently very good at finding inconsistencies. Six months later, he left.”
“Why?”
“I don't know.”
“Did anyone investigate his departure?”
“Not that I remember.”
Paige held up the phone.
“Someone thinks his name matters.”
Marcus looked at the message again.
“I'm going to ask the foundation's former accountant.”
“Through Rachel.”
He exhaled.
“Paige, not every conversation needs a lawyer.”
“Every conversation connected to suspicious financial activity needs a record.”
He nodded reluctantly.
That afternoon, Daniel discovered a connection between Thomas Ward and Celeste. Thomas was her younger brother.
Paige sat very still when he told her.
“Celeste never mentioned him.”
“According to the records, she was listed as his emergency contact. His death was classified as accidental, but the insurance investigation was reopened briefly after questions about his employment.”
“Who asked the questions?”
“Your mother-in-law.”
Marcus, sitting across from them, looked as though someone had struck him.
“My mother investigated Thomas's death?”
“Apparently,” Daniel said. “The records show that she contacted the insurance company twice and requested copies of the foundation's payment logs.”
“Why didn't she tell me?”
“Perhaps she was protecting you,” Paige said.
Marcus looked at her.
“From what?”
“That's what we need to discover.”
Rachel arranged for them to speak with Celeste through her attorney. Celeste initially refused, then agreed to a meeting after learning that Evelyn's letter had been found.
She arrived at Rachel's office wearing a dark suit, without the red coat that Paige remembered from the hallway.
For the first time, she looked tired.
“You found the blue room,” Celeste said.
Marcus stiffened.
“You knew about it?”
“My brother told me Evelyn was investigating the foundation. He said she had hidden copies of the records somewhere in the house.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
Celeste laughed bitterly.
“Because I thought you were part of it.”
“I wasn't.”
“I know that now.”
Paige leaned forward.
“Did you send the messages?”
Celeste looked at her.
“Some of them.”
“Which ones?”
“The first warning. The one about Project Lantern. I wanted you to understand that the foundation was being used to hide something. I didn't know how much you already knew.”
“And the men at the school?”
“No.”
“Do you know who sent them?”
Celeste hesitated.
“Victor.”
Marcus's face hardened.
“Why?”
“Because he needed leverage. You were asking questions, and Paige had the records.”
“You knew he might target the children?”
“I told him not to.”
Paige's voice became dangerously quiet.
“That isn't an answer.”
Celeste looked down.
“No. I knew he might use them to frighten you. I didn't think he'd send anyone to the school.”
“You knew he was willing to use children as leverage, and you continued working with him.”
“I wanted the truth about my brother.”
“And what did you think would happen to everyone else while you got it?”
Celeste had no answer.
She finally explained that Victor had approached her years earlier, claiming he could prove Thomas had discovered illegal transfers and been silenced. He offered to help her access the foundation's records if she could get close to Marcus.
She had agreed.
At first, she intended to expose the truth. Later, she became entangled in the financial scheme herself, believing she could control it long enough to find the evidence.
“Did you love Marcus?” Paige asked.
Celeste looked toward him.
“I thought I did.”
Marcus said nothing.
“Did you ever plan to tell him about Thomas?”
“Yes.”
“When?”
“After I found the original files.”
Paige shook her head.
“You kept telling yourself that the next lie would be the last one.”
Celeste's eyes filled.
“Yes.”
Before leaving, she handed Rachel a sealed envelope containing copies of her correspondence with Victor.
“There is one more thing,” she said.
“What?” Marcus asked.
“Thomas didn't die before he could reveal the truth.”
May you like
She looked directly at him.
“He recorded a meeting with your father. And Victor has the original.”
