Chapter 16 - ELENA'S DAUGHTER
Elena stared at the photograph.
I looked at her.
"Who is the girl?"
Her face lost all color.
"My daughter."
I had never known she had one.
"Where is she?"
"With my sister in Queens."
"Why didn't you tell anyone?"
Elena looked at Susan.
"Because Susan knew."
Susan closed her eyes.
Years earlier, Elena's husband worked as an accountant for a Vale Security contractor.
He discovered irregular North Crown payments.
Two weeks later, he died in what police called a robbery.
Elena never believed it.
She came to Vale House under her maiden name hoping to find proof.
"You were investigating us," I said.
"North Crown. Not you."
"You lied on your employment application."
"Yes."
"Why should I trust you?"
Her eyes flashed.
"Because I threw myself over your son before I knew whether the glass would kill me."
Noah did.
He walked into the room in pajamas.
"I trust Elena."
Everyone turned.
"Buddy, you should be asleep."
"You were yelling."
He walked to Elena and took her hand.
Mara asked Elena about her husband's files.
She had one encrypted drive hidden offsite.
It contained payment records connecting Owen Kane to three jobs.
Adrian's hotel.
Elena's husband's robbery.
And my birthday banquet.
Same payer each time.
Not Susan.
Not Margaret.
Not Julian.
A numbered account owned by Vale Legacy Foundation.
The foundation's chairperson was my mother.
Celeste shook her head.
"I never approved those payments."
Rebecca checked governance records.
The foundation required two signatures.
Celeste's.
And the executive director's.
I knew the name before she said it.
Susan Park.
Susan looked at Celeste.
"I used your digital signature."
"For all three?" Mara asked.
Susan hesitated.
"For Elena's husband, yes. For the banquet, yes."
"Adrian?"
Susan whispered, "No."
Mara leaned closer.
"Then who paid Owen to follow Adrian?"
May you like
Susan looked toward the old portrait of my father.
"Charles Vale."
