Chapter 8 - The Second Trust)
Amelia had hidden something from everyone.
Including Nathan.
Her grandmother had created a separate trust years earlier.
Not forty-eight million.
One hundred and twelve million dollars.
The money would pass directly to Amelia's first surviving child upon Amelia's death.
Elara.
Nathan would serve as trustee until Elara turned twenty-five.
But the document included a contingency.
If Nathan became legally incapacitated, lost parental rights, or was removed as trustee, the alternate trustee would assume control.
Victoria Langford.
Rachel stared at the papers.
"She knew."
Nathan's jaw tightened.
"Amelia says Victoria didn't know about this trust until shortly before the accident."
Lauren looked sick.
"So that's why everything escalated."
Michael Levin arrived within an hour.
He examined the documents.
"They're authentic copies. We need originals."
"Where are they?"
"Likely with the trust company."
Michael called.
The trust company confirmed the arrangement.
Victoria had already contacted them.
Three weeks earlier.
She had asked what documentation would be necessary to remove Nathan as trustee.
Nathan walked away from the table.
Rachel watched him stand at the window.
Outside, Elara slept in Marjorie's arms beneath a tree.
One hundred and twelve million dollars.
A baby who could not speak.
A father drowning in grief.
A woman willing to manufacture evidence.
The pattern was no longer confusing.
It was terrifyingly logical.
Michael prepared to contact prosecutors.
Then his phone rang.
He answered.
His expression changed.
"What?"
Everyone waited.
Michael listened for nearly a minute.
Then he ended the call.
"Gregory Shaw has been found."
Nathan turned.
"Where?"
"In Maryland."
"Alive?"
"Yes."
"Did they arrest him?"
Michael hesitated.
"No."
"Why not?"
"Because he walked into a police station voluntarily."
Rachel frowned.
"Why?"
Michael looked at her.
"He says he has evidence that Nathan arranged Amelia's death."
The room erupted.
Nathan swore.
Lauren covered her mouth.
Rachel remained still.
"What evidence?"
"Messages. Payment records. Location data."
Nathan laughed bitterly.
"Fake."
"Probably."
"Probably?"
Michael held up a hand.
"We have to treat this seriously."
Shaw's evidence was delivered that evening.
The messages appeared to show Nathan instructing Shaw to frighten Amelia after she threatened divorce.
One message read: Make sure she never reaches that meeting.
Another included a payment of two hundred thousand dollars.
Nathan's bank account had indeed transferred that amount.
Rachel looked at him.
"You made this payment?"
"Yes."
Everyone stared.
Nathan continued.
"I bought a security package for one of our properties. Two hundred thousand was the annual contract."
Michael examined the date.
"The payment occurred two days before Amelia died."
Nathan sat down.
"Victoria recommended Halcyon."
Rachel understood.
The transaction had been legitimate.
Its interpretation had been prepared.
Shaw had been creating a frame around Nathan months before anyone knew they needed one.
Police asked Nathan to come in for questioning.
He went.
Rachel remained with Elara.
For six hours there was no update.
At 11:40 p.m., Michael called.
Nathan had not been arrested.
But investigators had seized his phone and requested travel records.
The guardianship hearing was now even more dangerous.
If the court believed Nathan might be connected to Amelia's death, Victoria could win temporary control of Elara.
Rachel sat beside the crib.
She looked at the security camera.
Amelia's message returned to her.
Nathan won't understand Victoria until Victoria makes him understand.
Maybe Amelia had anticipated all of it.
Rachel opened the handwritten ledger from the wall box.
Page after page showed transfers.
Dates.
Companies.
Initials.
One set appeared repeatedly.
VL.
GS.
And a third.
KB.
Rachel searched the estate directory.
No employee matched KB.
She called Lauren.
"Do the initials KB mean anything?"
Lauren went silent.
"Where did you see them?"
"Amelia's ledger."
"Don't tell Nathan yet."
Rachel's stomach tightened.
"Why?"
"Because KB is Katherine Bell."
"Marjorie?"
"Her daughter."
Rachel frowned.
"I didn't know Marjorie had a daughter."
"She doesn't talk about her."
"How is Katherine connected?"
Lauren whispered, "She was driving the car that hit Amelia."
Rachel stood so quickly the chair scraped the floor.
"What?"
"The police report never named her publicly because she was hospitalized and charges were never filed."
Rachel could barely breathe.
"Was the crash really an accident?"
Lauren answered.
"I don't know."
Rachel ended the call.
Then she looked toward the nursery doorway.
Marjorie Bell stood there.
Her face was wet with tears.
"You found her name," Marjorie said.
Rachel did not move.
Marjorie stepped inside.
"My daughter didn't kill Amelia."
Rachel's voice hardened.
"Then tell me what happened."
Marjorie looked at sleeping Elara.
"Not here."
They went to the adjoining sitting room.
Marjorie closed the door.
Then she revealed the final secret her family had been hiding.
Katherine Bell had not been driving the car that struck Amelia.
She had been driving Amelia's car.
Someone else was behind the wheel of the second vehicle.
And Katherine had seen the driver's face.
"Who?" Rachel asked.
May you like
Marjorie's lips trembled.
"Victoria."
