Chapter 13 - The Signature Warren NeededJulian printed the proposal and placed it on the kitchen table.
For several minutes, he simply stared.
The language was formal and carefully written.
It described Warren's management as diligent, appropriate, and consistent with Claire's wishes.
Beneath those declarations was a place for Julian's signature.
Nora had already warned him that the statement would not necessarily prevent Lily from challenging the trust accounts in the future.
But it could still create a misleading record.
One Warren might use to defend his conduct.
Julian's phone rang.
Warren.
He answered.
"I assume you've received the agreement," Warren said.
"I have."
"Good. Sign it, and we can end this nonsense."
Julian looked toward Lily's high chair.
A tiny yellow spoon rested beside an unfinished bowl of oatmeal.
For some reason, the ordinary object made his anger sharper.
"How much money have you taken?"
Warren laughed.
"That's an offensive question."
"Then answer it."
"I haven't stolen anything."
"Why does a company connected to your office receive money for work nobody can verify?"
"Because you don't understand estate administration."
Julian swallowed.
For most of his life, Warren had spoken to him that way.
As though being older made him wiser.
As though Julian's business success meant nothing unless Warren approved of it.
But this wasn't about their childhood competition anymore.
This was about Lily.
"Claire trusted you," Julian said.
Warren's voice hardened.
"Don't use her name to manipulate me."
"You just used her name to defend yourself."
Silence.
Then Warren spoke more quietly.
"You're making enemies you can't afford."
Julian leaned forward.
"You hired Edward."
"I recommended a qualified security director."
"You introduced me to Celeste."
"I introduced you to a lovely woman."
"She frightened my daughter."
"She's not perfect."
Julian closed his eyes.
He could still hear Lily calling for him.
"She held Lily's wrist hard enough to leave a mark."
Warren sighed.
"Children bruise easily."
Julian opened his eyes.
"Did you know?"
"Know what?"
"That Celeste was deliberately making Lily cry?"
Warren paused.
Only briefly.
But Julian heard it.
"I knew she was documenting difficult behavior."
"Did you tell her to do it?"
"Julian, you're emotional."
"Answer me."
"I told her to maintain proper records. How she handled your child is her responsibility."
Julian felt the words settle.
It wasn't a denial of the instruction.
It was an attempt to separate Warren from whatever Celeste had done.
"I won't sign," Julian said.
Warren became very quiet.
"Think about the damage you're causing."
"I am."
"Your company's reputation is already suffering."
"Then let it suffer."
"Your daughter could be affected."
Julian gripped the edge of the table.
"Don't use my daughter to threaten me."
Warren lowered his voice.
"I'm trying to protect this family."
Julian answered slowly.
"Then you should have protected its youngest member."
He ended the call.
For several minutes, he sat motionless.
Then Lily toddled into the kitchen holding her stuffed rabbit.
The caregiver followed a few steps behind.
Lily approached Julian and raised both arms.
"Up."
He lifted her.
She touched his cheek.
"Dada sad?"
Two small words.
He nearly broke.
"A little."
She pressed the rabbit against his chin.
Julian closed his eyes.
"Thank you, sweetheart."
Later, Nora arrived with new information.
Her financial investigator had obtained additional corporate ownership documents.
Mercer Family Care Services and Mercer Residential Preservation were separate companies.
But both used the same registered administrative address.
Both shared a payment-processing arrangement.
And both had engaged the same management company.
Nora pointed to its name.
Northbridge Holdings LLC.
Julian frowned.
"What's Northbridge?"
"A company Warren helped establish."
"Does he own it?"
"We have documentation of his involvement, but we're still tracing the current ownership interests."
Julian studied the papers.
"So the money flowed from Lily's trust to vendors connected to Warren?"
"That's what the records suggest. We need bank-level tracing to prove where it ultimately ended up."
Julian leaned back.
"And he wants me to approve the expenses before anyone follows the money."
Nora nodded.
"That would certainly be useful to him."
Julian looked at Claire's photograph on the mantel.
He remembered how carefully she'd built Lily's trust.
Not because she expected to die.
But because she wanted her daughter protected, no matter what life brought.
Now money meant for Lily had been transferred to businesses connected to the man Claire appointed to safeguard it.
Julian picked up Warren's agreement.
For a moment, he considered tearing it in half.
Instead, he handed it to Nora.
"Preserve it."
She took the pages.
"You're learning."
Julian gave a sad smile.
"I'm trying."
Nora's phone vibrated.
She read the message.
Then looked up.
"The accountant found something else."
Julian's expression tightened.
"What?"
"Payments from Northbridge to a personal account associated with Edward Collins."
Julian's face went cold.
May you like
The investigation had finally reached the man who controlled the cameras.
And the money appeared to have reached him, too.
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