Chapter 14 - The Price of a Locked Door
Jada called Eleanor's caretaker and asked her to secure the deed without moving it. Priya requested that the court extend the preservation order to prevent document destruction and freeze disputed program transfers while the audit proceeded.
Martin's lawyer called those measures excessive. The judge agreed to preserve relevant records and restricted assets pending the next hearing, but refused a blanket freeze on every account. The foundation still needed to pay essential bills.
"The court isn't here to run the nonprofit," the judge said. "Bring facts, not fear."
Outside the courthouse, Claire waited by the steps. Her hair was pulled into a severe ponytail. She looked older than she had at the gala.
"You think Martin cares about those artists?" she asked Jada.
"I think you took money for their spots."
"You don't know what I took."
"Then tell the auditor."
Claire glanced toward a black sedan parked across the street. "I signed one contract. Martin controlled everything else."
"Was the cake a setup?"
Claire looked down. "I wanted you angry. I didn't know you'd do what you did."
"That doesn't erase what you did first."
"No," Claire admitted. "It doesn't."
Priya stepped between them and told Claire to contact counsel before giving any statement. Claire walked away without another word.
That evening the independent auditor confirmed the forged waiver used an old scan of Eleanor's signature. Its digital creation date preceded the supposed signing by seventeen days. Gideon's notary commission number appeared on the form, but he denied witnessing the signing.
The auditor was careful: "That establishes an irregularity. It doesn't yet establish who made the file."
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At midnight Armand called Jada. The barns' west alarm had sounded. Someone had opened the kiln room, and the original jury ballots were missing from the locked cabinet.
