Chapter 5 - The Eight Hundred Thousand
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Three days later, I was transferred from intensive care to a private rehabilitation wing. The doctors informed me that my spinal damage was serious, but not catastrophic. I might walk normally again after months of intensive therapy, or I might always carry a severe limp.
For a forensic accountant accustomed to exact numbers, such massive uncertainty was torture.
My parents arrived that afternoon, bringing homemade soup and quiet comfort. My father, Robert, placed a small black messenger bag on the bedside table.
“I brought your old personal laptop,” Dad said, patting my shoulder. “The silver one you left at our house last Christmas.”
“Thank you, Dad,” I said. I needed something to occupy my mind before I went insane inside my own head.
While my parents went down to the cafeteria, Detective Lena Morris returned to my room, carrying a thick yellow manila folder.
“We found something strange during the financial audit of Vivian’s accounts,” Lena said, pulling up a chair.
My professional instincts flared to life. “What kind of strange?”
“Wire transfers,” Lena explained, opening the file. “Moving through a hidden family trust entity.”
“How much money are we talking about?”
“Just over eight hundred thousand dollars across four separate accounts over the last three years.”
I sat up as much as my spinal brace allowed, ignoring the sharp sting of pain. “Eight hundred thousand? That makes no sense, Lena. Adrian’s firm was doing okay, but he didn't have access to that kind of liquid cash. And Vivian lives off a modest widow's pension.”
“We’re trying to determine where the original funds originated,” Lena noted.
“What was the exact name registered on the trust account?” I demanded.
“Mercer Family Holdings.”
I frowned deeply. “That isn't Vivian’s maiden name. It belonged to Adrian’s late father, Thomas Mercer. But Thomas died suddenly nine years ago, and his estate was cleared through probate.”
“The trust was created twenty-one years ago,” Lena revealed.
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My eyes widened. “Twenty-one years ago? That was long before I ever met Adrian. Who is listed as the primary trustee?”
Lena exhaled slowly. “That’s the problem, Hannah. The original ownership records filed with the bank appear to have been intentionally altered.”
