Chapter 9 - THE MAN WITH THE KEYS
Police stopped Ross Keene at a private airfield forty miles away.
He carried two suitcases, $74,000 in cash, and a laptop he claimed belonged to his firm.
The laptop changed the case.
It contained forged trustee approvals, fake invoices, backdated guardianship papers, and a folder labeled POST-TRANSFER.
The plan was simple.
After I lost custody, Evelyn would become temporary guardian.
Michael would seek permanent guardianship.
A corporate trustee selected by Keene would control Lily's inheritance and charge years of legal, management, and property fees.
Projected profit: more than $800,000.
"Why would Michael agree?" I asked.
Collins had the answer.
Three years earlier, Michael invested in a restaurant that failed. He borrowed heavily, then began taking money from Lily's trust while Anna was dying.
He told himself he would replace it.
He didn't.
Anna discovered the first theft.
Then Evelyn discovered it.
Instead of reporting him, she owned him.
Collins played part of Michael's interview.
"Evelyn said if I helped her become guardian, she'd make the old transfers disappear."
"And the peanuts?" Collins asked.
"I was told nobody would get hurt."
I closed my eyes.
Then Michael said, "The blue box proves Anna knew."
Collins asked where it was.
"I gave it to Keene."
Police searched Keene's car and office.
Nothing.
Finally Keene spoke.
"I didn't destroy it."
"Where is it?"
He looked at me.
"Evelyn had me send it to someone Daniel trusts."
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My stomach dropped.
The box had been mailed to my father.
