Chapter 7 - The Money Trail
With the camera in place, I turned my full attention back to the company’s books. Using my dormant access codes, I initiated a quiet, untraceable audit of Apex Development’s accounts. It didn't take long for the forensic accountant in me to find the rot.
For two years, Ethan had been systematically draining the company. He had set up a network of phantom subcontractors, routing massive payments for non-existent construction materials. It was a classic, sloppy embezzlement scheme, dressed up in corporate jargon.
When I dug deeper into the LLCs receiving the money, I hit the jackpot. The fake companies were registered under the maiden name of Ethan’s mother, Beatrice Vale. Together, mother and son had forged my electronic approval on dozens of transfers, siphoning off a staggering $4.8 million.
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They hadn't even been smart about hiding the illicit wealth. I traced the stolen funds directly to the purchase of luxury apartments, high-end jewelry, and a sprawling lake house held in Beatrice's name. Ethan wasn't just a monster behind closed doors; he was a careless, arrogant thief.
I bundled every wire transfer, every forged signature, and every fake invoice into a comprehensive dossier. I sent the encrypted file to my attorney and to Liam. The trap was set, loaded, and ready to snap. All I needed was for Ethan to make one final mistake.
