Chapter 11: The Woman Who K## Chapter 11: The Woman Who Knew My Father’s Secretnew My Father’s Secret
At 5:32 p.m., Detective Harris called to tell me that Evelyn Shaw
At 5:32 p.m., Detective Harris called to tell me that Evelyn Shaw had arrived at the old Bennett Hotel.
She was alone.
At least, according to the security footage.
“Do not approach her,” he warned.
“Our officers are watching had arrived at the old Bennett Hotel.
She was alone.
At least, according to the security footage.
“Do not approach her,” he warned.
“Our officers are watching the building. We need to determine whether she's connected to the person holding Caroline.””
“What if she knows where Caroline is?””
“Then the building. We need to determine whether she's connected to the person holding Caroline.””
“What if she knows where Caroline is?””
“Then we'll get that information without putting you in danger.””
I looked at Margaret.
“Evelyn was my we'll get that information without putting you in danger.””
I looked at Margaret.
“Evelyn was my father's friend. If she knows something, she'll talk to me.””
“Or she'll tell you exactly what you want to hear,” Margaret replied.
I couldn't disagree.
At 5:41 p.m., Evelyn sent me a photograph of a room on the hotel's third floor.
I recognized it immediately.
It father's friend. If she knows something, she'll talk to me.””
“Or she'll tell you exactly what you want to hear,” Margaret replied.
I couldn't disagree.
At 5:41 p.m., Evelyn sent me a photograph of a room on the hotel's third floor.
I recognized it immediately.
It was my father's old private office.
The room where he'd kept his personal correspondence, negotiated confidential deals was my father's old private office.
The room where he'd kept his personal correspondence, negotiated confidential deals, and sometimes sat alone after difficult meetings.
Beneath the photograph, Evelyn had written:
Your father left something here that you were never supposed to find.
Then, and sometimes sat alone after difficult meetings.
Beneath the photograph, Evelyn had written:
Your father left something here that you were never supposed to find.
Then another message appeared.
Bring the ledger, Olivia. You deserve to know why he died without telling you the truth.
I stared at the screen.
Margaret read the message over another message appeared.
Bring the ledger, Olivia. You deserve to know why he died without telling you the truth.
I stared at the screen.
Margaret read the message over my shoulder.
“This is designed to provoke you,” she said.
“We have no evidence connecting your father's death to the financial investigation.””
“I know.””
But the words had found their target.
For four years, I'd my shoulder.
“This is designed to provoke you,” she said.
“We have no evidence connecting your father's death to the financial investigation.””
“I know.””
But the words had found their target.
For four years, I'd accepted that my father had died suddenly from a heart attack. I'd grieved, taken over the business, and tried to honor his legacy.
Now someone was suggesting that his death had concealed something.
I needed to accepted that my father had died suddenly from a heart attack. I'd grieved, taken over the business, and tried to honor his legacy.
Now someone was suggesting that his death had concealed something.
I needed to know whether that suggestion had any basis in fact.
At 5:50 p.m., Detective Harris gave us an update.
Officers had entered the building through a rear service door and were moving through the know whether that suggestion had any basis in fact.
At 5:50 p.m., Detective Harris gave us an update.
Officers had entered the building through a rear service door and were moving through the lower floors. They had not yet located Caroline.
Evelyn remained in the third-floor office.
“We've also identified another vehicle nearby,” he said.
“It belongs to Richard Collins.””
My stomach tightened.
“Richard is there, too?””
“His vehicle is parked outside lower floors. They had not yet located Caroline.
Evelyn remained in the third-floor office.
“We've also identified another vehicle nearby,” he said.
“It belongs to Richard Collins.””
My stomach tightened.
“Richard is there, too?””
“His vehicle is parked outside. We haven't confirmed that he's inside the building.””
The detective told me to remain at the staging area while the. We haven't confirmed that he's inside the building.””
The detective told me to remain at the staging area while the officers assessed the situation.
I agreed.
Then my phone rang.
Evelyn.
I answered with Detective Harris listening on a separate line.
“Olivia,” Evelyn said, her voice calm and measured, “I'm glad you came.””
“I haven't come officers assessed the situation.
I agreed.
Then my phone rang.
Evelyn.
I answered with Detective Harris listening on a separate line.
“Olivia,” Evelyn said, her voice calm and measured, “I'm glad you came.””
“I haven't come anywhere. I'm speaking to you by phone.””
A brief silence followed.
“Your father would have been disappointed by how you've handled anywhere. I'm speaking to you by phone.””
A brief silence followed.
“Your father would have been disappointed by how you've handled this.””
I gripped the phone.
“You don't get to tell me what my father would think.””
“I knew him this.””
I gripped the phone.
“You don't get to tell me what my father would think.””
“I knew him for twenty-two years. I know what he wanted for you.””
“Then tell me why his original donor ledger contains your name beside for twenty-two years. I know what he wanted for you.””
“Then tell me why his original donor ledger contains your name beside suspicious financial transfers suspicious financial transfers.””
Evelyn sighed.
“Because I helped him investigate the first theft.””
“Peter Lang said you were connected to the consulting agreements.””
“Peter was an accountant. He saw numbers, not people. Your father asked me to help identify who was moving money through those companies.””
“Then why did the money go through your company?””
“Because I was trying to trace it.””
Her answer came too quickly.
I looked at Margaret.
She shook her head slightly, warning me not to accept the explanation without evidence.
“Where is Caroline?”” I asked.
Evelyn's voice changed.
“You.””
Evelyn sighed.
“Because I helped him investigate the first theft.””
“Peter Lang said you were connected to the consulting agreements.””
“Peter was an accountant. He saw numbers, not people. Your father asked me to help identify who was moving money through those companies.””
“Then why did the money go through your company?””
“Because I was trying to trace it.””
Her answer came too quickly.
I looked at Margaret.
She shook her head slightly, warning me not to accept the explanation without evidence.
“Where is Caroline?”” I asked.
Evelyn's voice changed.
“You should be asking why Daniel betrayed you.””
“I am asking where Caroline is.””
“Daniel wasn't should be asking why Daniel betrayed you.””
“I am asking where Caroline is.””
“Daniel wasn't the first person to steal from your foundation, Olivia. He was simply the easiest person to recruit.””
My heart p the first person to steal from your foundation, Olivia. He was simply the easiest person to recruit.””
My heart pounded.
“Who recruited him?””
“Someone who understood that you would trust your husband more than you would trust an old business partner.””
“Was that you?””
“No.””
“Then who?””
Evelyn lowered her voice.
“Your father discovered the truth shortlyounded.
“Who recruited him?””
“Someone who understood that you would trust your husband more than you would trust an old business partner.””
“Was that you?””
“No.””
“Then who?””
Evelyn lowered her voice.
“Your father discovered the truth shortly before he died. He was preparing to expose it. But he never got the chance.””
I swallowed.
“ before he died. He was preparing to expose it. But he never got the chance.””
I swallowed.
“Are you saying someone caused his death?””
“I'm saying that your father was afraid. He told me that if anything happened to him, I should make sure you never trusted the foundationAre you saying someone caused his death?””
“I'm saying that your father was afraid. He told me that if anything happened to him, I should make sure you never trusted the foundation's financial records without checking the original bank statements.””
“Why didn't you tell me this four years ago?””
“Because I was threatened.””
“By whom?””
A loud crash sounded through the phone.
Evelyn gasped.
Then a man's voice shouted, “Give me the phone!””
's financial records without checking the original bank statements.””
“Why didn't you tell me this four years ago?””
“Because I was threatened.””
“By whom?””
A loud crash sounded through the phone.
Evelyn gasped.
Then a man's voice shouted, “Give me the phone!””
The line went dead.
Detective Harris immediately radioed the officers inside.
“Possible confrontation on the third floor,” he saidThe line went dead.
Detective Harris immediately radioed the officers inside.
“Possible confrontation on the third floor,” he said.
“We're moving.””
I stood frozen beside Margaret.
Seconds later, the police radio crackled.
An officer reported that Evelyn had been found in the office, unharmed but.
“We're moving.””
I stood frozen beside Margaret.
Seconds later, the police radio crackled.
An officer reported that Evelyn had been found in the office, unharmed but visibly distressed.
Richard Collins was attempting to leave through the rear staircase.
He was stopped.
But Stephen Cole was nowhere to be found.
And Caroline was still missing.
At 6:17 p.m., Detective Harris approached us visibly distressed.
Richard Collins was attempting to leave through the rear staircase.
He was stopped.
But Stephen Cole was nowhere to be found.
And Caroline was still missing.
At 6:17 p.m., Detective Harris approached us.
“Mrs. Shaw is willing to speak with you,” he said.
“But we need to establish whether she has any involvement in the financial misconduct before we treat.
“Mrs. Shaw is willing to speak with you,” he said.
“But we need to establish whether she has any involvement in the financial misconduct before we treat her as a reliable source.””
“Can I see her?””
“Briefly. In a controlled location.””
We entered a small conference room on her as a reliable source.””
“Can I see her?””
“Briefly. In a controlled location.””
We entered a small conference room on the ground floor.
Evelyn sat at the table with her hands folded in front of her. Her expensive navy the ground floor.
Evelyn sat at the table with her hands folded in front of her. Her expensive navy suit was immaculate, but her face looked exhausted.
She glanced at the blue ledger in Margaret's protective case.
“You found it,” she whispered.
“Peter Lang had it,” I replied suit was immaculate, but her face looked exhausted.
She glanced at the blue ledger in Margaret's protective case.
“You found it,” she whispered.
“Peter Lang had it,” I replied.
“He said my father gave it to him.””
Evelyn closed her eyes.
“Thank God.””
I sat opposite her.
“Tell me the truth..
“He said my father gave it to him.””
Evelyn closed her eyes.
“Thank God.””
I sat opposite her.
“Tell me the truth. All of it.””
She took a slow breath.
“Four years ago, your father discovered that money from the foundation was being routed through shell companies. He suspected All of it.””
She took a slow breath.
“Four years ago, your father discovered that money from the foundation was being routed through shell companies. He suspected Stephen Cole, but the evidence kept disappearing.””
“Why didn't he go to the police?””
“He Stephen Cole, but the evidence kept disappearing.””
“Why didn't he go to the police?””
“He wanted proof. He believed someone inside the foundation was supplying information to Stephen.””
“Who?””
Evelyn looked at Margaret, then back at me.
“He suspected Daniel.””
My chest tightened.
“But wanted proof. He believed someone inside the foundation was supplying information to Stephen.””
“Who?””
Evelyn looked at Margaret, then back at me.
“He suspected Daniel.””
My chest tightened.
“But Daniel wasn't the person who started it,” she continued.
“Your father believed the scheme had existed before Daniel ever joined the foundation.””
“Who was responsible Daniel wasn't the person who started it,” she continued.
“Your father believed the scheme had existed before Daniel ever joined the foundation.””
“Who was responsible?””
Evelyn reached into her handbag and removed a folded document.
“Your father asked me to keep this safe. It contains the name of the original account holder.””
She placed?””
Evelyn reached into her handbag and removed a folded document.
“Your father asked me to keep this safe. It contains the name of the original account holder.””
She placed it on the table.
I unfolded the paper.
The account had been established using the name of a company that no longer existed.
But the beneficial it on the table.
I unfolded the paper.
The account had been established using the name of a company that no longer existed.
But the beneficial owner was clearly identified.
*Caroline Reed.*
I looked up, stunned.
Evelyn shook her head.
“Your father believed someone had used Caroline's identity without her knowledge. He never found out owner was clearly identified.
*Caroline Reed.*
I looked up, stunned.
Evelyn shook her head.
“Your father believed someone had used Caroline's identity without her knowledge. He never found out who.””
“Then why is her name on the account?””
“Because the person behind the scheme needed someone with no visible connection to the Bennett who.””
“Then why is her name on the account?””
“Because the person behind the scheme needed someone with no visible connection to the Bennett family. Caroline was a child when the account was opened.””
I stared at the document.
Caroline had been connected to this scheme since childhood.
Someone had used her identity to conceal family. Caroline was a child when the account was opened.””
I stared at the document.
Caroline had been connected to this scheme since childhood.
Someone had used her identity to conceal the original theft, then recruited her years later as my assistant.
Perhaps she'd been placed in my office the original theft, then recruited her years later as my assistant.
Perhaps she'd been placed in my office deliberately.
Perhaps her investigation had begun long before she ever met me.
Evelyn leaned forward.
“Ol deliberately.
Perhaps her investigation had begun long before she ever met me.
Evelyn leaned forward.
“Olivia, the person you need to find isn't Daniel, Richard, or Stephen.””
“Then who is it?””
Her eyes filled with tears.
“The person who created that account was your father's most trusted adviser.””
She slidivia, the person you need to find isn't Daniel, Richard, or Stephen.””
“Then who is it?””
Her eyes filled with tears.
“The person who created that account was your father's most trusted adviser.””
She slid another page across the table.
It contained an authorization signed twenty-three years earlier.
I recognized the handwriting immediately.
It belonged to the one person my father had trusted with his finances before anyone else.
My another page across the table.
It contained an authorization signed twenty-three years earlier.
I recognized the handwriting immediately.
It belonged to the one person my father had trusted with his finances before anyone else.
My father himself.
But the signature was dated six months after he had supposedly signed away control of the account.
And beneath it was a second signature.
father himself.
But the signature was dated six months after he had supposedly signed away control of the account.
And beneath it was a second signature.
One that made Margaret stand abruptly.
“That's impossible,” she whispered.
I looked at her.
“What is it?””
She stared at the documentOne that made Margaret stand abruptly.
“That's impossible,” she whispered.
I looked at her.
“What is it?””
She stared at the document, her face drained of color.
“Olivia, that signature belongs to my predecessor. The attorney who represented your father before I took over.””
“Where, her face drained of color.
“Olivia, that signature belongs to my predecessor. The attorney who represented your father before I took over.””
“Where is he now?””
Margaret swallowed.
“He died three years ago.””
Then she looked toward the conference room door.
“And he was the person who handled is he now?””
Margaret swallowed.
“He died three years ago.””
May you like
Then she looked toward the conference room door.
“And he was the person who handled the original paperwork when your father established the foundation.””
