Chapter 24 - THE $120,000 LIEEvelyn denied filing anything.
“That isn't my signature.”
Daniel Mercer, a forensic document examiner hired by Emily's attorney, agreed.
The signature had been copied from an old property record.
Then they investigated the $120,000 payment.
For decades, it had looked like hush money.
It wasn't.
Bank records showed Thomas transferred the money into an educational trust for Lucas.
But the account was emptied six months later.
The withdrawal authorization carried Evelyn's signature.
Also forged.
“Who took it?” Emily asked.
The answer arrived the following morning.
Carter & Vale Fiduciary Services.
Ryan recognized the name Vale.
His father's longtime financial adviser had been Martin Vale.
Martin had managed the family trust for nearly thirty years.
Ryan called him immediately.
Disconnected.
They drove to his old office.
Empty.
The building manager said Martin had moved out three weeks earlier.
“Did he leave a forwarding address?”
“No.”
Then the manager remembered something.
“A younger man helped him pack.”
He showed them security footage.
Ryan expected Lucas.
Instead, Emily recognized the man first.
Steven Maddox.
Ryan stared at the screen.
The attorney who had failed to finalize his divorce.
The attorney connected to Lucas.
The attorney now attacking Noah's trust.
Emily whispered:
“What if your divorce wasn't an accident?”
Ryan looked at her.
The implication was enormous.
If Maddox had deliberately left Ryan legally married to Natalie, then years later that mistake could be used to portray Ryan as dishonest or reckless.
Someone had created the problem.
May you like
Then waited until Ryan had something worth taking.
Noah.
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