Chapter 9 - The Name in the Trust
Miriam accessed the Cross family trust through sealed court records.
The document had been amended fourteen months earlier.
The amendment identified Elias Vale Cross as a direct successor to Victor Cross’s controlling interest.
Noah’s name did not appear.
Audrey read the page twice.
“How could he register Elias without a birth certificate?”
“He had one,” Miriam said.
“That is impossible.”
“Victor obtained a certified record from Saint Catherine’s Pediatric Institute.”
Serena looked stunned.
“That hospital never treated Elias.”
“No,” Audrey said. “But the medical envelope in my office carried its emblem.”
She opened the envelope.
Inside were transfer recommendations, specialist summaries, and a consent form authorizing Saint Catherine’s to become Elias’s primary treatment institution.
At the bottom was Audrey’s signature.
It was forged.
A second signature appeared beside it.
Julian Cross.
Julian examined the digital authentication.
“This came from my old authorization key.”
“The one Victor copied,” Audrey said.
“He has been signing documents as both of us.”
Miriam turned to the trust’s succession page.
“The amendment takes effect if Julian is declared incapable, deceased, or acting against the interests of the trust.”
Audrey understood.
“Victor is preparing to remove Julian.”
“And place Elias under a guardian selected by the Cross family office,” Miriam said.
Noah climbed onto the chair beside his brother.
“Why is everyone saying Elias’s name?”
Audrey closed the documents.
“It is grown-up business.”
Noah frowned.
“That means something bad.”
Julian watched both children.
“I can dissolve the trust.”
“Not without your board,” Miriam said. “Victor controls the majority.”
“I can surrender my own succession rights.”
“Then the interest transfers directly to Elias.”
Audrey looked at Julian.
“Which is exactly what Victor wants.”
They needed proof that Victor had forged the documents and manipulated the Gemini records.
The original archive beneath the Cross estate might contain it.
Chloe had given Audrey the key.
But Adrian’s warning said not to trust her.
Julian suggested moving the boys to a federal witness facility.
Miriam rejected the idea.
“Victor has relationships inside three federal agencies.”
“I have relationships too.”
“Your relationships disappeared when your credentials were revoked.”
The words struck harder than Miriam intended.
Julian looked at the floor.
Elias watched him.
“Do you own a company?” the child asked.
“I did yesterday.”
“What happened?”
“My father took it.”
Elias considered this.
“Why did you let him?”
Audrey almost interrupted, but Julian answered.
“Because I believed being powerful meant I did not have to question the people closest to me.”
“That does not sound powerful.”
“No,” Julian said. “It doesn’t.”
For the first time, Elias moved closer.
Not much.
Only one step.
But Julian noticed.
So did Audrey.
They decided to travel to the old Cross estate before Victor could move the archive.
Serena would remain with the boys at a secure property owned by Miriam’s law firm.
Audrey did not want to leave them again.
Elias listened as she explained.
“You promised to ask him about the recording,” he said.
“I did.”
“And?”
“He said it was copied.”
“Do you believe him?”
Audrey looked at Julian.
“I believe we need proof.”
Elias disappeared upstairs and returned carrying the cracked storage drive.
“This has proof.”
Audrey took it.
“We already searched it.”
“No. The other part.”
He pointed to a tiny line etched around the device’s metal edge.
Julian examined it.
“It is a biometric seal.”
“Can you open it?” Audrey asked.
“Not with my print.”
Elias pressed his thumb against the metal.
A hidden compartment opened.
Inside was a narrow strip of transparent film containing a series of microscopic codes.
Miriam held it beneath the light.
“This is not digital storage.”
Julian recognized it.
“Cross Meridian developed that material for permanent archival records. It can only be read at one facility.”
“The estate?” Audrey asked.
He nodded.
Elias looked at the strip.
“Uncle Adrian wanted me to find it.”
Audrey stared at him.
“How could he know you would?”
“Because the box said Gemini.”
Elias pointed to two tiny symbols printed on the film.
One matched the birthmark on his wrist.
May you like
The other matched a mark on Noah’s shoulder.
The symbols had been recorded before either child was born.
