Chapter 9 - Husband or Accomplice
Elena returned to Boston before noon.
Julian was waiting inside Richard Hale’s law office.
For the first time since she had known him, he looked genuinely afraid.
Elena remained standing.
“You have five minutes.”
Julian looked at Richard.
“Alone.”
“No.”
“Elena.”
“Four minutes and fifty seconds.”
Julian exhaled.
“My mother controlled the shell companies.”
“You approved transfers.”
“Yes.”
“You forged my credentials.”
Silence.
Elena’s expression hardened.
“Answer me.”
“Yes.”
The word landed like a stone.
Julian continued quickly.
“But I didn’t know everything.”
“That sentence is supposed to help you?”
“I thought Mother was hiding company losses.”
“You stole eighty-three million dollars.”
“I moved money.”
“You stole it.”
Julian rubbed both hands over his face.
“She told me the money would return before the audits.”
Elena almost laughed.
“You’re forty-one years old.”
She stepped closer.
“You don’t get to blame your mother because fraud became inconvenient.”
Julian looked ashamed.
“I know.”
“No.”
Elena shook her head.
“You know you got caught.”
Julian reached into his jacket.
Richard immediately moved.
Julian slowly placed a flash drive on the table.
“My mother doesn’t know I copied this.”
Elena did not touch it.
“What is it?”
“Recordings.”
“Of whom?”
“Her.”
Richard picked up the drive.
Julian continued.
“Mother has been moving money since before Dad died.”
Elena watched him.
“Why keep recordings?”
“Insurance.”
There it was.
Not conscience.
Self-preservation.
Elena almost admired his consistency.
Richard connected the drive to an isolated computer.
The first audio file began.
Eleanor’s voice filled the room.
“If Elena discovers the trust amendment, Julian loses everything.”
Elena frowned.
“What trust amendment?”
Julian stared at the floor.
Richard opened another file.
Eleanor continued speaking.
“Charles was sentimental at the end.”
“He changed the beneficiary structure.”
“If the truth becomes public, Elena Ward controls more than Meridian.”
Elena’s heart began pounding.
Richard stopped the recording.
“What did Charles leave you?”
Elena looked at Julian.
“I never met your father.”
May you like
Julian finally raised his eyes.
“That’s what Mother wanted you to believe.”
