Chapter 10 - MONEY BEFORE A CHILD
The statement sounded impossible.
Lily's trust did not activate until her birth.
But Catherine Carter's trust held dormant branch reserves for any future descendants.
Margaret had borrowed against Julian's branch for years.
Before she knew he had a child.
Before Maya was pregnant.
Before Julian died.
The money paid Preston.
Whitmore campaign consultants.
Private investigators.
And a shell company called Blue Harbor Services.
Ortiz traced Blue Harbor to the marina where Julian's boat had been serviced.
"You were stealing from Julian while pretending he didn't exist."
Margaret replied, "Arthur's mistake should never have been allowed to divide this family."
"Julian was a person."
"He was a scandal."
"And Lily?"
"Say it."
She would not.
Good.
Some words were too ugly even for her.
Then Renee produced Arthur's second ledger.
He had tracked every dollar Margaret moved.
He intended to restore it to Julian.
He never did.
Arthur died of a stroke three months after confronting Preston.
No immediate red flag.
But the Carter clinic doctor who signed Daniel's altered allergy order had also treated Arthur.
"Was Arthur's death natural?"
Ortiz did not speculate.
"We'll review it."
The family had enough ghosts already.
Then Caroline brought one more item.
A storage key her father kept in his desk.
She had taken it before coming to the Harbor Club.
Unit 317.
Inside were campaign files and personal letters between Thomas and Margaret.
One letter was dated the week Julian died.
M:
The boy knows too much.
If Arthur recognizes him publicly, everything changes.
I can stop the boat problem.
You handle Arthur.
Margaret's face had lost all color.
The letter did not prove murder by itself.
But it proved discussion.
Planning.
Division of roles.
Then another letter:
After Julian, Daniel becomes the only line again.
Except Julian was not the end.
Maya had already been pregnant.
And someone else had learned too.
May you like
A final note in Thomas's handwriting read:
Maya Ellis is carrying the problem forward.
