Chapter 37 - the name above samuelThomas revealed that the guardianship fraud extended beyond Mercer Holdings.
Judges, physicians and private adoption agencies had been paid through a network called The Circle.
Samuel controlled only its eastern operations.
Margaret had known enough to fear it, but not enough to lead it.
Richard had discovered one name above Samuel’s in the financial ledgers.
Judge Helena Ward.
The same judge who had sealed Samuel’s childhood records.
The same judge who approved Emma’s private placement.
And the same judge who presided over Margaret’s first custody hearing decades earlier.
Thomas had escaped custody because a federal investigator secretly working for Ward attempted to transfer him.
He came to the estate for Richard’s hidden list of Circle members.
Daniel did not trust him.
But Nora verified the transfer order had been forged.
Rose opened the folder.
Inside were photographs of children currently living under false identities.
One picture showed a seven-year-old boy standing outside a school.
Behind him was Margaret’s prison attorney.
Daniel called the federal prosecutor who had handled Samuel’s case.
The line went silent when he mentioned Helena Ward.
Then the prosecutor said, “Do not use your phone again.”
The call ended.
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Moments later, every alarm in the estate began ringing.
A fire had started inside the records archive.
