Chapter 3 - The Ghost in the Accounts
"What is that?" Jared asked, scoffing. "A copy of Johnny's will? Because if Johnny tried to leave everything to an outside charity, my lawyers will contest it in probate court before sunset."
"This isn't Johnny's will, Jared," I said, holding the document open before my mother's face.
The bold, red-stamped header across the top of the forensic audit read:
"SPECIAL INVESTIGATION DOCKET: FORENSIC ASSET TRACING & EMBEZZLEMENT AUDIT — REED ENTERPRISES & VANCE HOLDINGS."
Eleanor’s dismissive sneer froze. Her jaw slackened, her painted lips parting as her gaze scanned the first three paragraphs.
Every drop of bronzed color drained from her face until her skin looked like wet chalk.
"W-Where did you get this...?" Eleanor stammered, her voice shaking violently as she grabbed the porch railing to steady her knees.
"Johnny wasn't just a corporate logistics executive, Mother," I said, my voice cutting through the humid afternoon air like a surgical scalpel. "Johnny was the senior managing partner at Vance Forensic Asset Management. For the past eighteen months, his firm was hired by the Board of Trustees of my late grandfather's estate to audit twenty years of family distributions."
Richard stepped forward, sweat breaking out across his forehead despite the cool breeze. "Naomi... your grandfather's trust was settled a decade ago! That's private family business!"
"No, Father," I replied, turning the page. "It was grand larceny."
The second section displayed high-resolution bank records, forged signature affidavits, and offshore transfer logs originating from the Cayman Islands.
"When Grandfather died, he left a three-million-dollar trust fund specifically designated for my university education, my first home, and my future children's medical care," I explained with lethal precision. "You and Mother forged my signature on twenty-four separate probate waivers when I was nineteen years old. You drained every penny of my inheritance to buy this golf-course home, finance your country club memberships, and fund four separate bankrupt businesses for Jared."
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"That's a lie!" Jared shouted, his face turning crimson. "Mom and Dad gave me that seed money legitimately!"
"The audit was completed on October 12th, Jared," I said, looking him dead in the eyes. "Forty-eight hours before Johnny and Gemma were killed in that crash. Johnny was preparing to file federal criminal complaints against all three of you."
