Eleven Years of Marriage, One Night of Betrayal

Marcus drew his weapon before I understood what was happening.

“Move behind me,” he ordered.

I backed away understood what was happening.

“Move behind me,” he ordered.

I backed away from the piano.

The music room opened onto the central hallway, which led to the front from the piano.

The music room opened onto the central hallway, which led to the front entrance and the rear garden. The villa was silent except for the faint hum of the air entrance and the rear garden. The villa was silent except for the faint hum of the air-conditioning.

Then a door slammed upstairs.

Marcus signaled for me to stay where I was.

He-conditioning.

Then a door slammed upstairs.

Marcus signaled for me to stay where I was.

He moved toward the staircase, keeping his eyes on the landing.

“Police moved toward the staircase, keeping his eyes on the landing.

“Police!”” he called.

“Identify yourself!””

A woman appeared at the top of!”” he called.

“Identify yourself!””

A woman appeared at the top of the stairs.

She was older than I remembered from the photographs, with silver threaded the stairs.

She was older than I remembered from the photographs, with silver threaded through her dark hair. She wore a black coat, jeans, and a baseball through her dark hair. She wore a black coat, jeans, and a baseball cap pulled low over her forehead.

But I knew her face.

Evelyn Cross.

cap pulled low over her forehead.

But I knew her face.

Evelyn Cross.

The woman I had believed dead for three years stood ten feet aboveThe woman I had believed dead for three years stood ten feet above me, holding a small pistol pointed toward the floor.

“Marcus Reed?”” me, holding a small pistol pointed toward the floor.

“Marcus Reed?”” she asked.

He didn't lower his weapon.

“Put the gun down.””

she asked.

He didn't lower his weapon.

“Put the gun down.””

“I will, if you stop pointing“I will, if you stop pointing yours at me.””

“Put it down first.””

Evelyn sighed.

yours at me.””

“Put it down first.””

Evelyn sighed.

Then she placed the pistol on the floor and nudged it away with her shoeThen she placed the pistol on the floor and nudged it away with her shoe.

Marcus approached her carefully and secured the weapon.

I couldn't.

Marcus approached her carefully and secured the weapon.

I couldn't move.

Evelyn looked at me.

“Victoria.””

I stared at her.

“You're move.

Evelyn looked at me.

“Victoria.””

I stared at her.

“You're alive.””

“Yes.””

“You let me believe you were dead.””

“I know.””

“You let alive.””

“Yes.””

“You let me believe you were dead.””

“I know.””

“You let my father believe you were dead.””

Her expression tightened.

“Your father never believed it.””

The my father believe you were dead.””

Her expression tightened.

“Your father never believed it.””

The words struck me harder than I expected.

“What?””

“He knew I had words struck me harder than I expected.

“What?””

“He knew I had survived the accident. He arranged for me to disappear.””

I shook my head.

“ survived the accident. He arranged for me to disappear.””

I shook my head.

“Why?””

“Because Damon had begun investigating the ownership structure of CrossWhy?””

“Because Damon had begun investigating the ownership structure of Cross Meridian Capital. Your father believed that if I remained visible Meridian Capital. Your father believed that if I remained visible, Damon would use me to reach the original trust records.””

I, Damon would use me to reach the original trust records.””

I looked at the ledger on the piano.

“And this?””

“Your father asked looked at the ledger on the piano.

“And this?””

“Your father asked me to help hide it. He wanted you to inherit the truth, not just the me to help hide it. He wanted you to inherit the truth, not just the money.””

I laughed bitterly.

“Then why didn't he tell me?””

“ money.””

I laughed bitterly.

“Then why didn't he tell me?””

“Because he was afraid you'd tell Damon.””

“He was my fatherBecause he was afraid you'd tell Damon.””

“He was my father.””

“And Damon was your husband.””

Evelyn's voice softened.

“Your.””

“And Damon was your husband.””

Evelyn's voice softened.

“Your father loved you. He also knew how completely you trusted Damon. He father loved you.

He also knew how completely you trusted Damon. He thought he had time to find a way out.””

I looked at thought he had time to find a way out.””

I looked at Marcus.

“Is any of this true?””

Marcus holstered his weapon but remained Marcus.

“Is any of this true?””

Marcus holstered his weapon but remained between Evelyn and the hallway.

“Her identity needs between Evelyn and the hallway.

“Her identity needs to be verified. So does everything she's saying.””

Evelyn nodded.

to be verified. So does everything she's saying.””

Evelyn nodded.

“That's reasonable.””

She reached into her coat slowly and removed a driver's“That's reasonable.””

She reached into her coat slowly and removed a driver's license, an old passport, and a folded document.

Marcus examined them.

Then he looked at me license, an old passport, and a folded document.

Marcus examined them.

Then he looked at me.

“We need to secure the property and preserve the evidence. No one leaves with that.

“We need to secure the property and preserve the evidence. No one leaves with that ledger until the appropriate authorities are involved.””

Evelyn's gaze sharpen ledger until the appropriate authorities are involved.””

Evelyn's gaze sharpened.

“Then you need to move quickly. Damon has already contacted the people who helped him transfered.

“Then you need to move quickly. Damon has already contacted the people who helped him transfer the money.””

“Who?”” I demanded.

She looked the money.””

“Who?”” I demanded.

She looked toward the front door.

“Your husband's business partner. The man who has toward the front door.

“Your husband's business partner. The man who has been signing off on the fraudulent transactions.””

“Who is he?””

Evelyn hes been signing off on the fraudulent transactions.””

“Who is he?””

Evelyn hesitated.

Then she said, “Richard Bennett.””

I stared at her.

“No.””

“I'mitated.

Then she said, “Richard Bennett.””

I stared at her.

“No.””

“I'm sorry.””

“Richard was married to Sierra. He was furious when he found them sorry.””

“Richard was married to Sierra. He was furious when he found them together. He showed me the hotel expenses.

He said together. He showed me the hotel expenses. He said he wanted to help.””

“He did help you discover the affair,” Evelyn he wanted to help.””

“He did help you discover the affair,” Evelyn replied.

“That doesn't mean he was honest about everything else.””

I shook my head.

“ replied.

“That doesn't mean he was honest about everything else.””

I shook my head.

“Richard's money was stolen, too.””

“Some of it. NotRichard's money was stolen, too.””

“Some of it. Not all of it.””

She stepped closer to the piano.

“Richard discovered the transfers all of it.””

She stepped closer to the piano.

“Richard discovered the transfers months ago. He knew Sierra had created SB Consulting. He also months ago.

He knew Sierra had created SB Consulting. He also knew Damon was using it to move funds out of the trust.””

I remembered knew Damon was using it to move funds out of the trust.””

I remembered Richard standing beside his SUV the previous night, watching the security Richard standing beside his SUV the previous night, watching the security footage with a calm expression.

He had seemed devastated.

But perhaps he had been footage with a calm expression.

He had seemed devastated.

But perhaps he had been calculating.

“Why would he let me send him that calculating.

“Why would he let me send him that footage?”” I asked.

“Because he needed proof that Damon and Sierra were still working footage?”” I asked.

“Because he needed proof that Damon and Sierra were still working together. He suspected Damon would try to blame the together. He suspected Damon would try to blame the missing money on her.””

I looked down at the ledger.

“And he came here to make sure missing money on her.””

I looked down at the ledger.

“And he came here to make sure I didn't discover the rest?””

Evelyn nodded.

“Richard has been trying I didn't discover the rest?””

Evelyn nodded.

“Richard has been trying to recover his own losses. If the trust documents become public, he may to recover his own losses. If the trust documents become public, he may lose far more than his business.””

Marcus took out his phone.

“I'm lose far more than his business.””

Marcus took out his phone.

“I'm contacting my former supervisor. If there are active fraud allegations, we need contacting my former supervisor. If there are active fraud allegations, we need to know about them before we proceed.””

Evelyn to know about them before we proceed.””

Evelyn looked at him.

“Your former supervisor isn't the person you should call.””

“Why looked at him.

“Your former supervisor isn't the person you should call.””

“Why not?””

“Because the financial crimes unit has an officer not?””

“Because the financial crimes unit has an officer on its payroll who has been feeding Damon information for on its payroll who has been feeding Damon information for years.””

Marcus went very still.

“Who?””

“Detective Paul years.””

Marcus went very still.

“Who?””

“Detective Paul Mercer.””

The name meant nothing to me.

But Marcus reacted as though she'd slapped Mercer.””

The name meant nothing to me.

But Marcus reacted as though she'd slapped him.

“Mercer retired last year.””

“No,” Evelyn said.

“He resigned him.

“Mercer retired last year.””

“No,” Evelyn said.

“He resigned after an internal investigation was quietly closed. He's now after an internal investigation was quietly closed. He's now working as a private consultant for Hayes Urban Holdings.””

Marcus swore under working as a private consultant for Hayes Urban Holdings.””

Marcus swore under his breath.

I stared at Evelyn.

“How do you know all this?””

“Because his breath.

I stared at Evelyn.

“How do you know all this?””

“Because I helped build the company Damon stole.””

She I helped build the company Damon stole.””

She turned toward me.

“And because your father wasn't the only person who lost someone turned toward me.

“And because your father wasn't the only person who lost someone.””

Her eyes glistened.

“Charlotte nearly died because of him.””

Her eyes glistened.

“Charlotte nearly died because of him. My daughter spent eleven months defending herself against fabricated. My daughter spent eleven months defending herself against fabricated charges while Damon sold off pieces of the business your charges while Damon sold off pieces of the business your father had spent thirty years building.””

I thought of Charlotte.

father had spent thirty years building.””

I thought of Charlotte.

The woman who used to bring me coffee when I visitedThe woman who used to bring me coffee when I visited my father's office. The woman who had once helped me choose my wedding flowers.

I hadn't my father's office. The woman who had once helped me choose my wedding flowers.

I hadn't spoken to her in years.

“What happened to her?”” I asked.

“She survived. spoken to her in years.

“What happened to her?”” I asked.

“She survived. But she refuses to come back until she knows Damon can no longer hurt her But she refuses to come back until she knows Damon can no longer hurt her.””

Evelyn looked at the ledger.

“That's why we need this.””

Marcus finished.””

Evelyn looked at the ledger.

“That's why we need this.””

Marcus finished his call and put his phone away.

“We have a problem. My contact confirmed his call and put his phone away.

“We have a problem. My contact confirmed that Damon filed a report this morning claiming Victoria removed confidential corporate records from his that Damon filed a report this morning claiming Victoria removed confidential corporate records from his office.””

I stared at him.

“He's accusing me of stealing?””

“He's trying office.””

I stared at him.

“He's accusing me of stealing?””

“He's trying to establish a legal reason to seize the documents before you can use to establish a legal reason to seize the documents before you can use them.””

Evelyn gave a humorless laugh.

“That's exactly what I them.””

Evelyn gave a humorless laugh.

“That's exactly what I expected.””

Marcus continued.

“My contact also says a court expected.””

Marcus continued.

“My contact also says a court application is being prepared to freeze assets connected to Hayes Urban Holdings. application is being prepared to freeze assets connected to Hayes Urban Holdings. If Damon convinces a judge that the ledger belongs to his company, he could If Damon convinces a judge that the ledger belongs to his company, he could get access to it before we establish what it contains.””

I felt sick.

“What do get access to it before we establish what it contains.””

I felt sick.

“What do we do?””

“We document everything and contact independent counsel. Nobody we do?””

“We document everything and contact independent counsel. Nobody touches the ledger without a proper chain of custody.””

Evelyn looked at me.

“There's touches the ledger without a proper chain of custody.””

Evelyn looked at me.

“There's another problem.””

I almost laughed.

“Of course there is.””

“The ledger contains another problem.””

I almost laughed.

“Of course there is.””

“The ledger contains the original beneficiary agreement, but it won't prove what the original beneficiary agreement, but it won't prove what happened to your father by itself. We need the second ledger.””

I remembered the handwritten happened to your father by itself. We need the second ledger.””

I remembered the handwritten note.

The second ledger.

“Where is it?””

Evelyn shook her head.

“I don't know.””

“ note.

The second ledger.

“Where is it?””

Evelyn shook her head.

“I don't know.””

“Then why did my father write about it?””

“Because the second ledger records the transfers that were deliberatelyThen why did my father write about it?””

“Because the second ledger records the transfers that were deliberately omitted from the official company accounts. It identifies who authorized them omitted from the official company accounts. It identifies who authorized them, who received the money, and who altered the records afterward.””

“And you, who received the money, and who altered the records afterward.””

“And you think Damon has it?””

“I think he has been looking for it since your father died.””

I looked at the think Damon has it?””

“I think he has been looking for it since your father died.””

I looked at the piano.

“Could it be hidden here, piano.

“Could it be hidden here, too?””

“No. Your father told me he had given it too?””

“No. Your father told me he had given it to someone he trusted.””

“Who?””

“Your mother.””

My breath caught.

“My to someone he trusted.””

“Who?””

“Your mother.””

My breath caught.

“My mother died nine years ago.””

“I know. But before she died, she gave the mother died nine years ago.””

“I know. But before she died, she gave the second ledger to someone else.””

“Who?””

Evelyn looked at me.

“Your husband second ledger to someone else.””

“Who?””

Evelyn looked at me.

“Your husband.””

The room went silent.

I shook my head.

“No.””

“.””

The room went silent.

I shook my head.

“No.””

“Your father believed Damon could be trusted when he married you. He gave him theYour father believed Damon could be trusted when he married you. He gave him the ledger as part of a business transaction, believing Damon would safeguard it until the trust dispute ledger as part of a business transaction, believing Damon would safeguard it until the trust dispute was resolved.””

“And Damon stole the company anyway?””

“He was resolved.””

“And Damon stole the company anyway?””

“He didn't steal everything at once. He began by changing a few records, then moving small amounts of didn't steal everything at once. He began by changing a few records, then moving small amounts of money.

By the time your father understood what was happening, Damon had built a network money. By the time your father understood what was happening, Damon had built a network of shell companies and false invoices.””

I stared at the woman standing beside my mother's piano.

“You of shell companies and false invoices.””

I stared at the woman standing beside my mother's piano.

“You're telling me my husband has spent eleven years stealing from my family.””

“I'm're telling me my husband has spent eleven years stealing from my family.””

“I'm telling you he had eleven years to hide what he did.””

My phone rang telling you he had eleven years to hide what he did.””

My phone rang.

Richard.

I answered on speaker.

“Richard, where are you?””

“At.

Richard.

I answered on speaker.

“Richard, where are you?””

“At my office. Why?””

“Evelyn Cross is alive.””

Sil my office. Why?””

“Evelyn Cross is alive.””

Silence.

Then Richard said, “That changes things.””

I closedence.

Then Richard said, “That changes things.””

I closed my eyes.

It was such a small response.

No shock my eyes.

It was such a small response.

No shock.

No disbelief.

No question about how a dead woman could suddenly.

No disbelief.

No question about how a dead woman could suddenly be standing in my house.

Just a cold acknowledgment.

be standing in my house.

Just a cold acknowledgment.

I opened my eyes.

“You knew.””

“I suspected.””

“You knew she wasI opened my eyes.

“You knew.””

“I suspected.””

“You knew she was alive?””

“Victoria, listen to me. You need to understand alive?””

“Victoria, listen to me. You need to understand what you're dealing with.””

“That's what Damon said.””

“I'm what you're dealing with.””

“That's what Damon said.””

“I'm not Damon.””

“No. You're the man who told me he not Damon.””

“No. You're the man who told me he wanted to help while hiding the fact that he'd been investigating the same wanted to help while hiding the fact that he'd been investigating the same transfers for months.””

Richard sighed.

“I was trying to protect my company.””

“By lying transfers for months.””

Richard sighed.

“I was trying to protect my company.””

“By lying to me?””

“By finding evidence before Damon could destroy it.””

“Did to me?””

“By finding evidence before Damon could destroy it.””

“Did you know he was stealing from my inheritance?””

“I you know he was stealing from my inheritance?””

“I knew he was moving money through SB Consulting. I didn't know the full extent of the knew he was moving money through SB Consulting. I didn't know the full extent of the transfers.””

“Did you authorize them?””

Silence.

I felt my stomach twist.

“Richard transfers.””

“Did you authorize them?””

Silence.

I felt my stomach twist.

“Richard?””

“I authorized some consulting payments. Damon?””

“I authorized some consulting payments. Damon told me they were legitimate expenses connected to a joint development project.””

“And when you discovered they told me they were legitimate expenses connected to a joint development project.””

“And when you discovered they weren't?””

“I began investigating.””

“Did you tell the authorities?””

“No.””

“Why?””

“Because weren't?””

“I began investigating.””

“Did you tell the authorities?””

“No.””

“Why?””

“Because I needed to know how much of my own company was exposed.””

I looked at Evelyn.

She I needed to know how much of my own company was exposed.””

I looked at Evelyn.

She was watching me with a grim expression.

Richard continued.

“Victoria, I can explain everything was watching me with a grim expression.

Richard continued.

“Victoria, I can explain everything if you meet me. I have documents that will help you.””

“Why if you meet me. I have documents that will help you.””

“Why should I trust you?””

“Because I'm trying should I trust you?””

“Because I'm trying to stop Damon.””

“Are you trying to stop him,” I asked, “or are to stop Damon.””

“Are you trying to stop him,” I asked, “or are you trying to stop him before he can expose you trying to stop him before he can expose you?””

The silence that followed answered more than he intended.

Then you?””

The silence that followed answered more than he intended.

Then Richard said, “You have until six o'clock tonight to decide Richard said, “You have until six o'clock tonight to decide whether you want the truth.””

“What happens at whether you want the truth.””

“What happens at six?””

“The board of Hayes Urban Holdings meets. Damon intends to transfer six?””

“The board of Hayes Urban Holdings meets. Damon intends to transfer control of the remaining assets to a new company. Once that transaction goes control of the remaining assets to a new company. Once that transaction goes through, recovering your money will become much harder.””

“Then we'll through, recovering your money will become much harder.””

“Then we'll stop it.””

“You can't. Not without the second ledger.””

I looked at Evelyn.

She shook stop it.””

“You can't. Not without the second ledger.””

I looked at Evelyn.

She shook her head slightly.

Richard's voice dropped.

“Victoria, the original her head slightly.

Richard's voice dropped.

“Victoria, the original ledger proves your father owned the trust. The second ledger proves Damon used it to fund ledger proves your father owned the trust. The second ledger proves Damon used it to fund his company. Without both, he can claim the transfers were legitimate.””

“And his company. Without both, he can claim the transfers were legitimate.””

“And you have the second ledger?””

“No.””

“Then who does?””

Richard exhaled.

“D you have the second ledger?””

“No.””

“Then who does?””

Richard exhaled.

“Damon gave it to Sierra.””

I remembered Sierra's message.

*I need the documentsamon gave it to Sierra.””

I remembered Sierra's message.

I need the documents before he finds them.

My heart began pounding.

“Where is she?””

“I don't know.””

“ before he finds them.*

My heart began pounding.

“Where is she?””

“I don't know.””

“Richard, where is Sierra?””

“She called me anRichard, where is Sierra?””

“She called me an hour ago. She said she was going to the villa.””

I turned toward the front door.

“She hour ago. She said she was going to the villa.””

I turned toward the front door.

“She isn't here.””

“Then she's on her way.””

A isn't here.””

“Then she's on her way.””

A terrible realization settled over me.

Sierra hadn't been terrible realization settled over me.

Sierra hadn't been frightened when Richard arrived the previous night because frightened when Richard arrived the previous night because she feared losing her marriage.

She had been frightened because he might discover what she had she feared losing her marriage.

She had been frightened because he might discover what she had stolen.

Richard spoke again.

“Victoria, whatever you do, don't stolen.

Richard spoke again.

“Victoria, whatever you do, don't let Sierra leave with that ledger.””

The line went dead.

For a let Sierra leave with that ledger.””

The line went dead.

For a moment, I stood frozen beside the piano.

Then the security system chim moment, I stood frozen beside the piano.

Then the security system chimed.