Chapter 3 - The Forty-Two Million Dollar Trust
The Walker estate had become the center of the investigation.
Daniel Walker's will was clear.
His grandchildren were the beneficiaries.
Their mother, Emily, was supposed to manage the trust.
But six months before Daniel's death, everything had changed.
Melissa had entered the picture.
She claimed to be Emily's closest friend.
She helped organize the funeral.
She offered to help with the children.
Then she convinced Emily to sign temporary financial documents.
"She told me I was sick," Emily explained from her hospital bed.
"I was grieving."
"What did she say?"
"That I wasn't capable of handling the estate."
"Did you sign anything?"
Emily nodded.
"Too much."
Marcus looked at the file.
"Your father's attorney says Melissa had no authority to access the trust."
Emily's eyes widened.
"Then why did she?"
Marcus didn't answer.
Because he didn't know yet.
But someone had.
An accountant named Harold Pierce.
Harold had managed Daniel Walker's estate for eighteen years.
When police questioned him, he immediately asked for an attorney.
That was enough to make Marcus suspicious.
Meanwhile, Noah stabilized.
Elena entered the waiting room.
"Sophie."
The little girl looked up.
"Is he okay?"
"He's alive."
Sophie burst into tears.
"Can I see him?"
"Not yet."
"Please."
"He's sleeping."
Sophie nodded.
"Okay."
Elena sat beside her.
"You did something very brave."
Sophie shook her head.
"I was scared."
"Being brave doesn't mean you aren't scared."
Sophie looked at her.
"It means you do what needs to be done anyway."
Sophie thought about that.
Then whispered:
"Mommy used to say that."
Elena smiled.
"Your mother sounds like a strong woman."
Sophie looked away.
"She wasn't strong anymore."
"Why?"
"Because Aunt Melissa made her cry."
Elena's smile disappeared.
"What did Melissa do?"
Sophie lowered her voice.
"She took Mommy's phone."
"Why?"
"Mommy tried to call Grandpa's lawyer."
"Did she say why?"
"She said Mommy was trying to steal our money."
Elena's stomach tightened.
"Your mother wanted to protect your inheritance?"
Sophie nodded.
"She said it wasn't ours."
"Whose was it?"
Sophie looked confused.
"Grandpa said it was ours."
That evening, Marcus received a report from the financial crimes unit.
The trust had been drained.
Not entirely.
But $8.7 million had disappeared.
Transfers had been made to six companies.
All six had been created within the previous year.
The common connection?
Melissa Walker.
Marcus stared at the documents.
"She's stealing from the kids."
His partner shook his head.
"There's more."
"What?"
"The companies are buying property."
"Where?"
"Three states."
Marcus looked at the addresses.
One was a luxury house.
Another was a private aircraft company.
The third was an offshore account.
Then he noticed something.
The trust withdrawals had increased exactly when Emily became sick.
Someone wasn't merely stealing money.
They were deliberately incapacitating the mother.
Marcus returned to the hospital.
Emily was awake.
"Mrs. Walker."
"Emily."
"Emily, I need to ask you something."
"What?"
"Who benefits if you're declared mentally incompetent?"
Emily stared at him.
Then whispered:
"Melissa."
Marcus nodded.
"That's what I thought."
Emily began to cry.
"Detective, she told me if I fought her, she'd take Sophie and Noah away."
Marcus leaned closer.
"She already tried."
Emily looked terrified.
"Where is Sophie?"
"Safe."
"And Noah?"
"Alive."
Emily closed her eyes.
For the first time in months, she allowed herself to believe her children might survive.
But she didn't know yet that Melissa had a second plan.
A plan involving a judge.
May you like
A forged psychiatric evaluation.
And a court hearing scheduled for the following morning.
