He Came Home Smiling for His Daughter’s Birthday—Then He Saw Her Tied Up by the Pool

Thomas Bell had worked for Daniel for eleven years.

Aaron said what Daniel could not.

"This isn't just custody."

Daniel looked at the image.

"No."

"It's corporate theft."

By lunch, the pieces started connecting.

Kyle's company.

"Thomas moved company money to Kyle," Aaron said.

"And Vanessa was tied to Kyle," Morales added.

Daniel stared at the spreadsheet.

"Then why go after Lily?"

Aaron leaned back.

"Leverage. If Vanessa controlled Lily's trust, she controlled voting shares. If she controlled voting shares and Thomas controlled internal operations..."

"They could force me out."

Nobody spoke.

Daniel felt stupid.

Not because he had trusted one person.

Because he had trusted all of them.

He stopped.

"What's this?"

Thomas looked at it.

Then at Daniel.

"Let me explain."

"Go ahead."

Thomas sat slowly.

"It wasn't supposed to involve Lily."

Daniel's chair scraped backward.

Aaron put a hand on his arm.

Thomas continued quickly.

"Vanessa said she only needed temporary custody. She said once the court order came through, we'd move the trust vote, remove you as managing director, and negotiate a settlement."

"You were stealing from my company."

"I was moving money."

"That's stealing."

Thomas wiped sweat from his forehead.

"Kyle was the one pushing the party plan."

Daniel leaned over the table.

"And you knew?"

"I knew there was going to be a confrontation. I did not know they would restrain her."

"You're lying."

"I'm not."

"Then prove it."

Thomas looked toward the investigators.