Chapter 12 - The Device Inside Their Home
The transfer was stopped seven minutes before completion.
Norman contacted the bank’s fraud department while officers separated everyone across the property.
Claire was examined by paramedics. She had not struck the ground, and the baby’s heartbeat remained steady. Even so, Ethan refused to leave her side.
Marlene was detained for questioning after Noah showed officers the poolside footage.
Richard demanded an attorney.
Grant insisted the transfer request had nothing to do with him.
Beth sat alone beneath the balloon arch, staring at her hands.
The device identifier created a new problem.
Someone had scheduled the $480,000 transfer using a device connected to Claire and Ethan’s home network.
Ethan gave Norman immediate permission to search the house.
They found no unfamiliar computer.
The security panel had logged no recent physical access except Claire, Ethan, Beth, and Marlene.
“Marlene entered with an old key,” Norman said.
“She tried to access the camera system,” Ethan replied.
“Could she have scheduled the transfer?”
“No. The panel cannot access banking websites.”
“But another device connected to the network could imitate its identifier.”
“Someone spoofed it?”
“Possibly.”
Samuel sat inside a police vehicle, waiting to negotiate through an attorney.
Before officers took him away, he gave Ethan the small drive containing payment records.
The files showed twelve years of transfers from the Ward Foundation to North Vale Consulting.
The owner of the receiving account was hidden behind a numbered trust.
Samuel claimed he controlled it.
The records suggested otherwise.
Several withdrawals had been made in locations where Samuel had never lived.
One had been made near Claire and Ethan’s neighborhood three weeks earlier.
That evening, Norman gathered Claire, Ethan, and Beth at the police station.
“Your mother has been released pending further investigation,” he said. “The pool incident supports charges, but she claims she grabbed the purse and you lost balance accidentally.”
“The video shows what happened,” Ethan said.
“It shows enough to continue. Richard and Grant have also been released. Financial cases take time.”
Beth stared at the table.
“So they all go home.”
“For now.”
“What about the transfer?”
“We have frozen the legacy account.”
“Can my parents access anything else?”
“We are working with the bank.”
Claire placed a hand over her stomach.
“And Olivia?”
Norman looked toward the closed conference-room door.
“She is here.”
Olivia Hart entered wearing a plain gray sweater and carrying a thick folder.
She looked exhausted but unharmed.
Claire recognized her from foundation events.
Olivia sat across from them.
“Samuel helped me disappear,” she said. “But not because he wanted to protect me.”
“Why did he help you?” Ethan asked.
“He needed someone inside the foundation to locate the second ledger.”
“Did you find it?”
“No. I found references to it.”
Olivia opened the folder.
“Your grandmother divided the evidence into three parts. A physical ledger, a bank archive, and a recorded statement.”
“Where are they?” Claire asked.
“The bank archive is connected to the $480,000 account. The recording was placed in a private vault. The ledger vanished after Eleanor died.”
Beth wiped tears from her face.
“Why did you report the $18,000 payments?”
“Because they were not going to Samuel.”
Olivia removed photographs of withdrawal records.
“The account was controlled by someone using Samuel’s identity, but most of the money was redirected.”
“To whom?” Ethan asked.
Olivia pushed forward a photograph.
It showed Marlene entering a bank with Leonard Shaw.
Behind them stood Grant.
And in the reflection of the glass door was another figure.
Claire leaned closer.
The face was blurred.
The person wore Ethan’s jacket.
Ethan stared at the image.
“That is not me.”
Claire believed him.
Then Olivia placed a second photograph on the table.
This one had been taken from inside the bank.
May you like
The unknown man’s face was visible.
He looked almost exactly like Ethan.
