Chapter 10 - The Accountant in Vermont
Evelyn Shaw lived under her maiden name in a farmhouse outside Brattleboro, Vermont.
Grace had known because Claire arranged it.
“She asked me to mail Evelyn cash twice,” Grace admitted during the drive.
Ryan stared through the windshield.
“You keep having new secrets.”
“So did Claire.”
“That isn’t an answer.”
“No. It’s a consequence.”
Ryan looked at her.
Grace’s cheek had faded to yellow beneath the bruise.
He forced himself to say what mattered.
“I’m sorry I doubted you again.”
She nodded but did not rescue him from the discomfort.
“Thank you.”
“I want to repair what I did.”
“You may not be able to.”
“I know.”
That was all.
Evelyn opened the farmhouse door holding a shotgun.
Ryan stopped on the porch.
“Claire sent us.”
Evelyn’s grip tightened.
“Claire is dead.”
“Yes.”
“Which time?”
Ryan flinched.
Grace stepped forward.
“We have her phone.”
Evelyn slowly lowered the gun.
Inside, every curtain was covered.
Just like Nora Vance’s apartment.
Ryan realized how many people had spent months afraid of his family.
Evelyn had served as Bellamy’s controller for eleven years.
“Claire discovered the first unauthorized transfer in January,” she said. “Two million to a contractor called Northbridge Stone.”
“Real company?”
“Real shell. It billed Bellamy for renovations that never happened. Money went to Mercer Development.”
“Celeste?”
“Celeste approved the receiving side. Martin created the contracts.”
“How did they access Bellamy funds?”
“Forged investment-management authority.”
Ryan asked, “Why?”
Evelyn laughed bitterly.
“Because your company was drowning.”
“I didn’t know.”
“I believe you now.”
“Why now?”
“Because Claire did.”
Evelyn opened a steel document case.
Inside were ledgers.
Original bank statements.
Wire confirmations.
Emails.
Ryan picked up one.
FROM: CELESTE MERCER
TO: MARTIN VALE
Ryan cannot know the Bellamy bridge came from trust capital. He’ll refuse and make it a morality play.
Another:
Claire is asking about Northbridge. Move the remaining tranche before quarter-end.
Ryan’s hands shook.
Grace asked, “Thirty-one million?”
“Thirty-one point eight.”
Evelyn looked at Ryan.
“Your sister didn’t steal all of it for Mercer.”
His eyes narrowed.
“How much?”
“Seven million disappeared.”
“Where?”
“Personal entities.”
Ryan sat slowly.
Evelyn spread a chart across the table.
Celeste had routed funds through three companies, then into accounts tied to luxury property in Florida and a private investment fund.
“She wasn’t only saving Mercer,” Ryan whispered.
“No.”
Grace said, “Claire found out.”
“Yes.”
“What happened to you?”
Evelyn’s face hardened.
“Martin offered me five hundred thousand dollars to resign and sign a nondisclosure agreement.”
“You refused.”
“Then someone broke into my apartment.”
Ryan looked toward the shotgun.
“Claire moved you here.”
“She saved my life.”
“Why didn’t you go to authorities?”
“I did.”
“To Danner?”
Evelyn nodded.
Ryan closed his eyes.
Grace asked, “Who does Celeste fear more than Martin?”
Evelyn gave a grim smile.
“Her ex-husband.”
Ryan stared.
“Daniel?”
Daniel Ross had been married to Celeste for four years. Their divorce twelve years earlier had been brutal but quiet.
Ryan had been told Daniel cheated.
Evelyn said, “Daniel discovered Celeste had been moving money long before Claire did.”
“Then why didn’t he expose her?”
“Because Martin paid him.”
“How much?”
“Three million.”
Ryan stood.
“My sister told everyone he left her for another woman.”
Evelyn shrugged.
“He did have an affair. That made him easy to discredit.”
“Where is he?”
“San Diego.”
Rebecca, who had joined them, examined the ledgers.
“This is enough for civil fraud claims and probably criminal referrals.”
“Probably?”
“We still need authentication and chain of custody.”
Evelyn lifted another folder.
“You’ll get it.”
Inside were original board minutes.
Claire had objected in writing to using Bellamy assets for Mercer obligations.
Ryan saw his own response.
An email from eleven months before the crash.
Claire, stop accusing my sister unless you have proof.
His stomach twisted.
Claire had replied.
I am trying to show you proof.
He had never answered.
Evelyn watched him read.
“She loved you.”
Ryan’s eyes burned.
“That doesn’t seem comforting anymore.”
“It isn’t meant to.”
Rebecca’s phone rang.
She answered, listened, then looked at Ryan.
“Family court hearing has been moved to tomorrow morning.”
“Why?”
“Celeste claims Emma is in immediate danger.”
Grace swore softly.
Rebecca continued.
“She submitted another exhibit.”
A hotel surveillance clip.
Ryan watched.
It showed him in the hallway two nights earlier, arguing with Grace.
No audio.
Grace stepped backward.
Ryan pointed toward her.
The angle made him look threatening.
“It’s cropped,” Grace said.
Rebecca nodded.
“But effective.”
Ryan looked at Evelyn.
“I need you in New York.”
Evelyn went pale.
“No.”
“Your testimony could stop Celeste.”
“You don’t understand.”
“What?”
Evelyn stared toward the dark window.
“Celeste didn’t just threaten me.”
She pulled down the collar of her sweater.
A thin scar crossed her throat.
“She tried to have me killed.”
May you like
Ryan froze.
Evelyn whispered, “And the man she hired is the same man who forced Claire’s car off the road.”
