Chapter 17 - The Accountant in Vermont
Marisol and Investigator Ruiz traveled to Vermont with copies of the documents. Adrian stayed with Evelyn, while Naomi helped the old woman prepare for the court review.
The accountant, Walter Finch, was eighty-two and sharp-eyed. He had kept the original ledgers in a locked cabinet after retiring because he never trusted the digital records alone.
“I told your father the trust needed a safeguard,” he said to Marisol. “He listened. But he also believed people could be frightened into doing the right thing. That was his mistake.”
Finch produced a ledger showing payments to Bell Vale Services, a company connected to Pike. Beside several entries were notes about “capacity review” and “transition support.” The amounts matched the transfers found by Naomi and Tessa.
He also had an email printed on paper. It showed Pike asking Halden to certify that Evelyn could not manage her affairs, even though Halden had not completed a proper assessment.
Once the amendment is approved, Adrian’s signature will settle the remaining issue.
Finch explained that the trust could be transferred into a new management structure only if Adrian signed a separate agreement. The forged contract was meant to give Celeste leverage over him if he tried to stop the appointment.
Tessa’s report suggested Halden’s credentials had been used, but the clinic system logs were incomplete. Finch remembered that Pike had hired a technology contractor to “modernize” the medical billing system.
“Then investigators will test her claim against the evidence,” Marisol replied. “No one gets to decide the truth just by crying or looking innocent.”
“Do you think Adrian will ever trust anyone again?” Evelyn asked.
A car pulled into the driveway.
May you like
Celeste had returned alone, carrying a small suitcase.
And she was asking to speak to Evelyn privately.
