Chapter 16 - THE SIXTH ACCOUNT
The smoke came from a damaged electrical unit in the basement.
It was meant to trigger panic, not trap anyone permanently. Agents disabled the security system and evacuated the estate within minutes.
By the time investigators traced the remote signal, it had passed through servers in four countries.
Lydia was watching them.
But she had made a mistake.
Her interference proved the hidden documents mattered.
The trust records gave Naomi enough evidence to freeze Ceres Reserve Holdings and request international banking assistance.
Two days later, Swiss authorities confirmed the existence of Account Six.
It had been opened under a foundation controlled by Lydia Crane.
The balance was nine million, four hundred thousand dollars.
Some of the money came from Westbridge investors.
Some came from Brianna’s trust.
Some came from payments made by people like Owen Maddox.
The account had remained untouched during the Mercer prosecution.
“Why would Lydia leave that much money in one place?” Elena asked.
Robert looked at the transaction records.
“Because she didn’t expect anyone to learn it existed.”
Naomi disagreed.
“She expected someone to find it eventually.”
She pointed to a recent transfer request.
Lydia had attempted to move the entire balance only hours after investigators entered the Mercer estate.
The bank stopped the transfer.
The destination account belonged to a charitable foundation in Brianna’s name.
Brianna stared at the screen.
“She was going to make it look as though I took the money.”
“She still might,” Naomi said. “The request carries your digital signature.”
Elena examined the authorization.
The signature was flawless.
Unlike the earlier forgeries, it contained the natural movement of Brianna’s handwriting.
“Did Lydia have access to a digital signature sample?” Elena asked.
Brianna thought for a moment.
“Wedding contracts. Hundreds of them.”
Naomi closed the file.
“We can prove the authorization came from another device. But Lydia is building a story. She wants Brianna blamed as the hidden beneficiary of the Mercer scheme.”
That afternoon, news sites reported that investigators were examining Brianna’s possible connection to a secret overseas account.
Reporters gathered outside the center.
Donors began calling.
Several clients canceled appointments.
By evening, the center’s board requested an emergency meeting.
One member suggested Brianna take temporary leave.
Brianna stood before them without defending herself.
“I’ll resign.”
“No,” Elena said.
The room became silent.
Elena placed copies of Brianna’s forged trust documents on the table.
“This center exists because powerful people depend on victims being too ashamed to speak. Removing Brianna before the facts are known would help the person framing her.”
One board member frowned.
“What about public confidence?”
“Truth is not a public-relations strategy,” Elena replied. “It is the reason we are here.”
After the meeting, Brianna waited beside Elena’s office.
“You’re risking the center for me.”
Elena shook her head.
“I’m protecting the center by refusing to become them.”
A package was delivered the following morning.
Inside was Brianna’s original wedding invitation.
Across the front, someone had written:
May you like
Your family paid for one performance.
Now prepare for the second.
