Chapter 3 - THE WOMAN BEHIND THE MONEY
At six the next morning, Evelyn walked into the kitchen wearing a silk robe and diamonds.
“Coffee,” she ordered.
I placed a cup on the counter.
She didn't thank me.
Instead, she examined the kitchen.
“The flowers need to be delivered by nine.”
“I'll make a note.”
“And the cake?”
“Already arranged.”
She smiled.
“You see? When you stop being difficult, everything works.”
I looked at her.
“Evelyn, can I ask you something?”
“What?”
“Where did the money for this house come from?”
Her smile disappeared.
“What kind of question is that?”
“A simple one.”
“Nolan bought this house.”
“With what money?”
She stepped closer.
“You're becoming disrespectful.”
“I've always wondered.”
She stared at me for several seconds.
Then she whispered, “You should be careful what you ask.”
That confirmed everything.
I spent the morning pretending to prepare for her birthday.
But instead of cooking, I met Elise at a coffee shop across town.
Elise was a forensic accountant I had hired years earlier for my consulting business.
I placed the flash drive on the table.
“Can you trace this?”
She looked at me.
“Where did you get it?”
“From my husband's study.”
Her expression changed.
“Mara, if this is what I think it is, you need to leave that house.”
“I know.”
She plugged in the drive.
Minutes later, her face went pale.
“Oh my God.”
“What?”
“This isn't just theft.”
“What is it?”
“Identity laundering.”
I stared at her.
“Nolan has been moving your income through shell companies. Then he's using those companies to make payments on properties.”
“How many?”
“Seven.”
My stomach dropped.
“Seven properties?”
“Yes.”
“Whose names?”
She turned the screen toward me.
My name appeared repeatedly.
Then another name.
Evelyn Hartwell.
Elise pointed to a column.
“Your money goes in. Her companies receive it. Then the companies purchase assets.”
“Why put them in my name?”
“Because if creditors come after the Hartwells, they can claim the assets belong to you.”
I felt sick.
“So I'm their shield.”
“Exactly.”
I leaned back.
Then Elise opened another document.
“This is worse.”
“What?”
“There are tax filings claiming you're a silent partner in businesses you've never heard of.”
“Which businesses?”
She read the names.
Two restaurants.
A construction company.
A luxury event company.
And one private investment firm.
I recognized the last name.
Hartwell Capital.
“That company belongs to Evelyn.”
“No,” Elise said.
She pointed to the ownership line.
“It belongs to you.”
I stared at the screen.
My entire life had been turned into a financial machine.
And I had never even known I owned the machine.
Then my phone buzzed.
A message from Daniel.
DON'T GO HOME YET. NOLAN KNOWS YOU WERE IN THE STUDY.
A second message arrived.
AND MOM JUST FOUND OUT ABOUT THE $180,000 TRANSFER.
Then a third.
SHE'S ASKING WHO TOLD YOU.
I looked at Elise.
“The birthday party starts in three hours.”
May you like
Elise closed the laptop.
“Then let's make sure they have something unforgettable to celebrate.”
