Chapter 11 - The Signature
Rachel met Julian in her office rather than discussing the trust over the phone.
"We have a problem," she said.
Julian almost laughed.
"Only one?"
"The bank records show you clicked approval on several transfers that used fabricated invoices."
"Meredith told me they were for Lena's care."
"That may explain why you approved them. It does not erase your responsibility as trustee."
Julian stared at the account statements.
He remembered sitting outside a hardware warehouse, answering Meredith's urgent message while forklifts rattled behind him.
The text had said: LENA NEEDS THIS TODAY. PLEASE APPROVE.
He had clicked without opening the attachment.
"I gave her a door," he said.
"And she walked through it."
Rachel didn't offer easy forgiveness.
"We'll cooperate fully with the bank and the investigator. Your job now is to protect Lena's remaining funds and prevent any more unauthorized spending."
Julian signed paperwork requiring two independent reviewers for future care expenses.
The bank froze disputed withdrawals while it examined recovery options.
Elliot, the accountant, admitted he had not questioned the repeated emergency orders because Julian had approved them.
"I should have asked for delivery records," Elliot said.
"Yes," Julian replied.
"And I should have read what I signed."
At the hospital, Mae handed Julian a cup of coffee he forgot to drink.
"You've been trying to fix everything in twenty-four hours," she said.
"I should have fixed it eleven months ago."
"Then start with what you can do today."
He looked at Lena, who was practicing a gentle breathing exercise with Carmen.
The little girl spotted him and waved.
His phone rang again.
Detective Brooks had received a formal reply from Blue Harbor's registered address.
The business claimed it had delivered all the devices in person.
May you like
Julian recognized the name on the delivery acknowledgments.
Someone had signed each one: Lena Ward.
