Chapter 6 - THE LANDLORD'S OTHER NAME"The money left our charity and came back as a bill," Grace told Adrián.
He read the collection notice three times. Eastline Advisory had been paid to supply beds. Eastline Property Recovery now demanded rent from the shelter that never received those beds. Behind both companies sat a holding firm called Hawthorn Capital.
Lana checked the state registry. "Registered agent: Nolan Ashford."
Victoria's younger brother.
"That isn't enough to prove she's involved," Grace said. "Brothers can run businesses without their sisters."
"He attended every fundraiser she organized," Adrián said. "I thought he was a donor."
On the drive back, Grace's phone filled with anonymous threats. A stranger had published her apartment address beneath the edited gala video. One message said her mother should be ashamed. Another promised to visit.
Grace phoned Irene. "Lock the door."
"Honey, a woman is already here," Irene said. "She says she has something that belongs to you."
Grace told her mother not to open the door, then called Omar. He reached the building before Grace did and found a young woman waiting on the sidewalk with a canvas bag. Her name was Celia Wynn, Victoria's events coordinator.
"I didn't mean to scare anyone," Celia said. "Your address was on the payroll sheet. That's how they found it."
She reached into the bag slowly and brought out a flash drive.
"I ran Victoria's calendar. I booked the meetings with Nolan. I watched the contracts change."
"Why now?" Grace asked.
Celia said, "Victoria told me empty buildings sell faster."
She gave the drive to Omar for the investigators, along with her account of how she had copied the records.
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"There's one more thing," Celia said. "Victoria plans to visit Rosebridge tonight. She has keys to the side entrance."
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