Chapter 10 - The Person Behind the Money
The video continued with Thomas laying out a map of companies, properties, and people. Patricia controlled approvals. Vanessa moved funds through consulting invoices. Ethan signed documents he didn't fully understand—at first. Later, Thomas believed, Ethan knew exactly what the signatures meant.
“But the person ordering them around is connected to the foundation's bank,” Thomas said. “His name is Victor Shaw.”
Adrian recognized the name immediately. Victor was Patricia's oldest friend, a polished investor who had attended every family holiday and given Adrian his first business loan.
Thomas held up a letter. “Victor threatened to destroy Nora's future if I exposed him. I told Robert. We were going to the authorities together.”
The recording ended abruptly.
Adrian called Detective Jackson. She asked him not to handle the original documents further and arranged to meet him at the facility with a financial-crimes investigator. He obeyed, though his hands shook from the effort it took to do nothing.
At the hospital, Nora finally received good news. The baby's heartbeat looked steadier. She might be able to avoid an early delivery if the next exams remained reassuring.
Adrian told her about Victor. “He's been inside our lives since I was ten.”
Nora stared at him. “My dad mentioned that name once. He said Victor could make people disappear from a balance sheet.”
“Why didn't we listen to him?”
“Because we were too busy arguing about who was supposed to pick Lily up from preschool.”
There was no cruelty in her words. That somehow hurt more.
By late afternoon, the police had taken copies of the storage records and arranged to preserve the originals. Adrian left the facility under instructions to avoid confronting suspects.
He didn't make it to his car before Victor called.
“Adrian,” Victor said warmly. “I've heard there's been some unpleasantness at the wedding.”
“Don't call me again.”
“That's not practical. Your father has obligations, and the foundation has partners.”
“The police know.”
Victor laughed once. “People say all kinds of things when they're scared.”
Then his tone changed. “There's a little girl sitting in a green dress at Claire's kitchen table. Don't make her part of an adult problem.”
Adrian's blood ran cold.
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Victor had just told him he knew exactly where Lily was.
