Chapter 28 - WHAT THOMAS KNEWThomas Carter had not been murdered.
The exhumation review and preserved medical samples showed nothing suspicious.
His heart had failed.
But once again, an accidental death had created an opportunity.
Three days before dying, Thomas had drafted a letter.
Martin never delivered it.
Lucas had found a scanned copy.
Ryan read aloud.
Thomas admitted he had failed Evelyn and Lucas.
He planned to recognize Lucas legally.
He also planned to remove Martin Vale as trustee.
Then came the sentence that explained everything:
I have discovered unauthorized borrowing exceeding $4.8 million against trust assets.
Emily stared at the number.
Martin hadn't been protecting a secret affair.
He had been protecting a financial crime.
Thomas died before signing the removal documents.
Martin remained trustee.
Then Ryan's marriage to Natalie became useful.
If Ryan later remarried while technically still married, Martin could attack his credibility if necessary.
When Noah was born, the trust demanded distribution and accounting.
The clock started.
Ryan put down the letter.
“All those years, I thought Maddox ruined my divorce because he was incompetent.”
Natalie answered:
“He ruined it because somebody paid him.”
Police obtained warrants.
Maddox was arrested first.
Martin was still missing.
Then Evelyn remembered an old property.
A lake house once owned by Thomas.
Lucas went pale.
“Martin knows about it.”
Investigators moved immediately.
But when they arrived, the house was empty.
On the kitchen table sat boxes of shredded documents.
Beside them was Noah's photograph.
Across the picture, Martin had written:
ONE SIGNATURE ENDS THIS.
Emily stared at it.
“He doesn't need Ryan's signature.”
Ryan looked at her.
May you like
She understood.
“He needs mine.”
