Chapter 3 - Rebecca’s Trust
Rebecca Harrison had died when Ella was three.
Cancer had taken her eleven months after diagnosis.
Before she died, she created a trust for their daughter funded with investment accounts, life-insurance proceeds and shares in a family partnership inherited from her parents.
Approximately twelve million dollars.
Daniel was primary trustee.
A private bank served as administrative co-trustee.
The money was for Ella’s health, education and support.
Daniel had promised Rebecca he would protect it.
Now he sat in his library staring at records proving he had failed.
“One-point-three million,” he repeated.
Rachel nodded.
“Over twenty months.”
“How?”
“Reimbursement requests.”
Daniel looked at the invoices.
Bright Haven Child Development Consulting.
Educational assessments.
Behavioral specialists.
Private therapeutic planning.
Residential-placement preparation.
Most charges ranged from fifteen thousand to eighty thousand dollars.
Daniel had never met anyone from Bright Haven.
Yet his electronic approval appeared on fourteen requests.
“I didn’t sign these.”
Rachel studied him.
“Some came from your authenticated device.”
Daniel went still.
“My tablet.”
“What about it?”
“I leave it in the home office.”
“Passcode?”
“Vanessa knows it.”
Rachel closed her eyes.
“Daniel.”
“I trusted my wife.”
“You also had fiduciary responsibility.”
He looked at her.
“I know.”
That sentence was becoming unbearable.
Upstairs, Ella slept in his bedroom because she refused to stay alone.
Poppy slept against her feet.
Martha sat outside the door.
Daniel opened another file.
“Who owns Bright Haven?”
“Layers.”
“Meaning?”
“New York LLC owned by Delaware LLC owned by another holding company.”
“Lucas.”
“Maybe.”
Rachel pointed at him.
“Do not call him.”
“I wasn’t—”
“You were.”
He was.
Daniel had built his company by confronting problems.
Rachel understood him too well.
“The police are investigating the child-abuse evidence,” she said. “Financial crimes take longer. We hire forensic accountants.”
Daniel stood.
“I’m going to the office.”
“No.”
“Lucas controls our finance department.”
“And if he is involved, walking in angry tells him exactly what you know.”
Daniel sat again.
He hated being still.
Martha entered.
“Sir?”
“Yes?”
“Ella asked whether Vanessa is coming back.”
“No.”
Martha’s eyes lowered.
“At least not while this is being investigated.”
Daniel corrected himself.
He had already learned not to make promises he did not legally control.
Martha hesitated.
“There’s something in Miss Ella’s room.”
She led them upstairs.
Inside Ella’s closet, behind a row of winter coats, was a child-sized backpack.
Ella had packed pajamas.
A stuffed rabbit.
A photograph of Rebecca.
Dog treats for Poppy.
And forty-three dollars in coins and small bills.
Daniel stared.
“She was planning to run away.”
Martha shook her head.
“No.”
She reached into the front pocket.
A handwritten note was folded inside.
If they make me go Monday, Martha says remember Daddy loves me even if Vanessa says he doesn’t.
Daniel sat on the closet floor.
His vision blurred.
Rachel looked away.
Martha began crying.
“I told her you loved her.”
Daniel pressed the note against his forehead.
“When did she pack this?”
“Yesterday.”
“She thought she was being sent away.”
“Yes.”
“And I was in Chicago.”
“Yes.”
Daniel looked at Martha.
“Why was Vanessa doing this?”
“I don’t know everything.”
“But you know something.”
Martha hesitated.
“One night I heard Mrs. Harrison and Mr. Brent arguing.”
“Lucas?”
“Yes.”
“About what?”
“Money.”
Daniel waited.
Martha lowered her voice.
“Mrs. Harrison said Ella had seen them together.”
“What does together mean?”
Martha looked uncomfortable.
“Mr. Brent kissed her.”
The words landed with surprising quiet.
An affair.
Of course.
Money and betrayal braided together.
“When?”
“About five months ago.”
“Did Ella see?”
“I think so.”
Daniel remembered Ella suddenly refusing to hug Vanessa around that time.
He had assumed grief.
“What happened after?”
“Mrs. Harrison started telling you Ella was lying more.”
Daniel closed his eyes.
Vanessa had not simply wanted Ella away.
Ella was a witness.
Rachel’s phone buzzed.
She read the message.
Then looked up.
“The company’s general counsel just called.”
“Why?”
“Lucas has scheduled an emergency audit committee meeting.”
Daniel frowned.
“For what?”
Rachel handed him the phone.
The email subject read:
POTENTIAL FIDUCIARY MISCONDUCT BY CEO DANIEL HARRISON
May you like
Daniel stared.
Lucas had moved first.
