Thomas forced a smile. Did he visit you often? Rose answered this time. Every month.
Sometimes he brought papers for mom to sign. She always got nervous about the papers. Nervous.
Laura got nervous when Vincent showed up with documents. Thomas felt his stomach churn. Do you remember what was written on those papers? The girls looked at each other.
We can’t read very well yet, Lily admitted. But once we heard Vincent talking to mom. He said something about the money being only for medical emergencies.
That she couldn’t use it for other things. Thomas’s phone vibrated. Message from Daniel, found something.
You need to see this in person. My office in an hour. Thomas typed a quick confirmation.
He looked at the girls again. I need to sort a few things out. Can you stay with your mother, or should I ask a nurse to watch her? We’ll stay with her, Rose said firmly.
We always do. Thomas nodded. He left some extra money with them in case they needed anything, and left the hospital.
On the way to Daniel’s office, he called Vincent Clark. Vincent, I need to see you. It’s about the foundation.
The voice on the other end sounded cautious. Sure, Thomas. When? Thomas almost smiled.
Tomorrow, first thing. At headquarters. He hung up before Vincent could respond.
If something was wrong, he didn’t want to give the man time to prepare. Daniel’s office was in the city’s financial district. Thomas went straight up to the 20th floor.
His lawyer waited with a grim expression. Sit down, Thomas. This is worse than I imagined.
He opened a folder full of documents. I found the papers. Your wife really created a fund for Laura Davies and the daughters.
But there’s a problem. The documents were altered after her death. Thomas felt his blood run cold.
Altered how? Daniel pointed to the signatures. Look here. This is Helena’s signature on the original document, dated five years ago.
She established a fund of $60,000 to cover Laura’s medical treatment and the children’s basic expenses until they turned 18. All legal, all registered. He pulled another document.
Now look at this. Three months after Helena’s death, Vincent Clark filed an amendment to the fund. The amount was increased to $500,000.
And there’s more, he included an emergency guardianship clause, giving him temporary legal authority over the children should Laura die. Thomas grabbed the papers. This is fraud.
He didn’t have authorization to make those changes. Daniel nodded. Exactly.
And there’s another thing. I investigated the foundation’s finances. In the last two years, Vincent diverted almost $2 million.
He created phantom projects, forged approvals, used Helena’s name to justify non-existent expenses. The anger Thomas felt was so intense he had to steady himself on the desk. Vincent had used his wife’s legacy to steal.
He had manipulated a sick woman and her daughters as part of some larger scheme. Why the girls? Thomas asked. Why would he care about two poor children? Daniel hesitated before answering.
I think he saw an opportunity. With Laura dying, he would have temporary guardianship. That means control over the $500,000 fund.
The girls are practically orphans. No one would question a respected director of a charitable foundation caring for needy children. He could drain the fund little by little, and no one would notice…
