Chapter 8 - The Trust Alyssa Left BehindRebecca insisted Daniel leave the mansion for several days.
Not because Evelyn owned it.
She did not.
The property had belonged to Alyssa.
After her death, Daniel inherited the house under her will.
Mia inherited something much larger.
A trust.
Daniel met Rebecca at her office.
She placed the trust documents between them.
“Alyssa created this six months before she died.”
Daniel frowned.
“I knew about Mia’s trust.”
“You knew the basics.”
“What don’t I know?”
Rebecca opened the document.
“Marcus Carter’s estate left Alyssa substantial shares in Carter Urban Development. Alyssa placed most of those shares into a trust for Mia.”
“How much?”
“Current estimated value: about twelve-point-four million dollars.”
Daniel stared.
“I thought it was closer to five.”
“That was before the Richmond redevelopment project.”
Daniel leaned back.
“Evelyn knows?”
“Yes.”
“Can she access it?”
“No.”
“Could she if she became Mia’s guardian?”
“Not directly.”
Daniel looked relieved.
Rebecca stopped him.
“But she could influence important decisions.”
“How?”
“The trust has a corporate trustee. You are co-trustee while Mia is a minor.”
“And if I’m removed?”
“The corporate trustee becomes sole trustee unless a court appoints another qualified co-trustee.”
“So Evelyn doesn’t get the money.”
“No.”
“Then why attack me?”
Rebecca opened another document.
“Because the money may not be her primary goal.”
She showed him the ownership structure of Carter Urban Development.
The trust held twenty-eight percent.
Evelyn personally controlled nineteen percent.
Several smaller family shareholders held the rest.
“Combined with other allies,” Rebecca said, “Evelyn has been trying to force a sale of company assets.”
“To whom?”
“Haven Ridge-associated investors.”
Daniel understood.
“If I control Mia’s voting shares…”
“You can block the transaction.”
“And if I’m removed?”
“The corporate trustee would decide.”
“Could Evelyn influence them?”
“She has been trying.”
Daniel stood.
“So she needed me discredited.”
“Possibly.”
“And Mia?”
Rebecca looked at him carefully.
“Daniel, do not assume the pool incident was only about money.”
He sat again.
“Why?”
“Because Alyssa changed the trust shortly before she died.”
“What did she change?”
Rebecca slid a page toward him.
A clause required an independent forensic audit of any transaction involving a company connected to Evelyn Carter or Leonard Shaw.
Daniel read it twice.
“Alyssa suspected them.”
“Yes.”
“Did Evelyn know this clause existed?”
“I don’t know.”
Daniel thought of the missing locked drawer.
“If Alyssa had a copy…”
“She probably did.”
“And now Evelyn has it.”
Rebecca nodded.
Daniel looked through the window.
For the first time, the pattern became visible.
The missing foundation money.
The company sale.
The trust.
The custody petition.
The damaged vest.
None of them were separate.
Evelyn had not simply wanted Daniel to look like a negligent father.
She needed him publicly broken.
A man who slept while his daughter nearly drowned could be discredited in court.
Discredited before trustees.
Discredited before shareholders.
Discredited before anyone believed him about missing millions.
Daniel rubbed his face.
“I gave her exactly what she needed.”
Rebecca shook her head.
“You made one mistake.”
“One?”
“You ignored Cooper.”
Daniel looked at her.
Rebecca continued.
“Everything Evelyn did after that was her choice.”
Daniel’s phone rang.
Detective Cole.
He answered.
“We found the contractor’s camera,” she said.
Daniel stood.
“Where?”
“In a trash container fourteen miles from your house.”
“Fingerprints?”
“Rain damaged most surfaces.”
“Footage?”
“The device was wiped.”
Daniel shut his eyes.
Cole continued.
“But Evelyn missed something.”
“What?”
“The camera uploaded one final motion clip before it was removed.”
Daniel held his breath.
May you like
“What does it show?”
“We need you to come in.”
Related Stories
