Chapter 12 - My Mother’s Last InstructionRobert Ellis had worked for my mother for twenty-six years.
He retired after she died.
Vanessa hated him.
I had never understood why.
Now I did.
Robert walked to the center of the ballroom.
“Robert, what is this?”
“A contingency.”
Of course my mother had a contingency.
He held up the flash drive.
“Your mother gave me this eleven days before her surgery.”
Vanessa stood.
“This is absurd.”
Robert ignored her.
“She told me if the internal audit disappeared, I was to wait.”
“For what?”
He looked at Vanessa.
“For someone to try to erase it twice.”
The first attempt had been after Mom died.
The second was today.
Robert gave the drive to Maya.
Vanessa moved toward him.
Security stepped between them.
Maya opened the drive on a secured laptop.
The files contained emails, board drafts, and a video.
My mother appeared on screen.
Thin.
Tired.
Still terrifyingly clear.
“If you are watching this, then Martin either ignored me or Vanessa lied to him.”
A ripple moved through the ballroom.
Vanessa shouted:
“Turn that off!”
Nobody did.
Mom continued.
“I found unauthorized vendor payments connected to North Bridge Consulting.”
My throat tightened.
She knew.
“I have not yet determined whether Claire is involved.”
That hurt.
But it was honest.
Mom continued:
“Claire signs too quickly. Vanessa explains too smoothly. Martin controls too much information.”
Daniel squeezed my hand.
Then Mom said:
“If Claire is innocent, she will be furious that I doubted her.”
Correct.
“If Vanessa is innocent, she will demand an audit.”
Vanessa did not move.
“If either daughter tries to stop the audit, you have your answer.”
The video ended.
Silence.
Then Robert handed Maya a sealed envelope.
“Original trust amendment.”
Vanessa made a sound somewhere between a laugh and a sob.
Andrew opened the envelope.
The amendment was valid.
Notarized.
Filed.
Effective.
Maya looked at Vanessa.
“Ms. Collins, I need you to remain available for questioning.”
Vanessa looked at me.
Not scared.
Furious.
“You planned this.”
“No.”
I stood in my wedding dress.
“You did.”
May you like
Then she said something I was not prepared for.
“Ask Robert who paid for your second dress.”
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