Chapter 16 - The Witness Who Finally Stopped HidingJulian stared at Thomas.
"You told me somebody left it in your mailbox."
Thomas nodded.
"I lied."
The words hung between them.
From the nursery, Lily babbled softly to her stuffed rabbit.
Julian glanced toward the door.
Then stepped farther down the hallway.
"Why?"
Thomas lowered his eyes.
"Because I was afraid Edward would know I'd accessed the office printer records."
Julian folded his arms.
"Explain."
Thomas took a breath.
"After the piano incident, I remembered seeing Edward collect payment paperwork from the estate office. I went back through the copies left in the printer's output tray."
"You took documents?"
"I copied a payment instruction that had been left there. I shouldn't have pretended it arrived anonymously."
Julian's jaw tightened.
"Did you change anything on the document?"
"No. But I wrote the note on the back."
Check the deposits.
Julian remembered those words.
He had spent days wondering who was secretly helping them.
Now he knew.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
Thomas looked toward the nursery.
"Because I already waited too long to speak up about Lily. I thought if I admitted I'd taken the copy, nobody would believe anything else I said."
Julian felt an uncomfortable recognition.
Thomas had hidden the truth because he feared losing credibility.
Julian had ignored warning signs because he feared admitting he'd trusted the wrong people.
Different mistakes.
The same instinct.
Avoid the painful truth until there was no other choice.
"You're going to tell Nora exactly what happened," Julian said.
Thomas nodded.
"And you'll give her the original file or copy you used, plus a truthful account of how you obtained it."
"Yes, sir."
Julian looked at him for a long moment.
"I don't know what consequences there may be for accessing those records. Nora will advise us. But no more invented explanations."
Thomas's eyes filled.
"Understood."
Julian turned toward Lily's room.
Then stopped.
"And Thomas?"
"Sir?"
"Thank you for finally telling me."
Thomas swallowed.
"I'm sorry I didn't protect her sooner."
Julian nodded.
"So am I."
The next morning, Nora arranged for Thomas to provide a corrected statement.
She made clear that his earlier lie could undermine his credibility.
They would not conceal it.
Meanwhile, Edward's legal position was deteriorating.
Bank records obtained through formal process showed payments to an account he controlled.
Some were labeled security consulting fees.
Others were described as performance compensation.
His employment contract did not authorize those particular payments.
Edward's attorney requested a meeting with investigators.
He offered to provide records voluntarily while reserving his client's legal rights.
Nora informed Julian that they should not assume cooperation meant immunity.
Edward could still face consequences for his conduct.
Julian was relieved.
But he wasn't satisfied.
"What did he actually do?"
Nora opened the latest records.
"He appears to have coordinated camera changes, certified questionable contractor access, and received money from a company connected to the trust's vendors."
"Did he know Celeste was frightening Lily?"
"We'll need his testimony."
The answer arrived sooner than expected.
During a formal interview with investigators, Edward acknowledged that he had instructed staff not to interrupt certain recorded sessions unless Lily appeared to be in immediate physical danger.
He claimed Warren had described the recordings as necessary for professional evaluation.
He also admitted that Celeste had complained when Thomas comforted Lily.
Julian sat motionless as Nora summarized the information.
"She complained?"
"According to Edward, Celeste said the interruptions were preventing them from documenting Lily's behavior."
Julian looked at the wall.
Thomas had brought Lily her rabbit.
And Celeste had objected because comfort interrupted the crying.
Nora continued.
"Edward acknowledged receiving additional compensation. He says Warren told him it was for coordinating specialized household security."
"Does he admit knowing about the false invoices?"
"He's disputed that. Investigators are checking his statements against the documents."
Julian rubbed his forehead.
"Did he say Warren knew Celeste was deliberately upsetting her?"
"Edward says he forwarded reports and received instructions about maintaining uninterrupted recordings."
Julian slowly lowered his hands.
There it was.
Not an accidental failure.
A deliberate decision to keep adults from responding.
His daughter had cried while people watched.
And someone had decided that intervening would interfere with the paperwork.
Julian stood.
"Where's Warren now?"
"His attorneys have acknowledged the court petition."
"Has he agreed to produce the accounts?"
"Only some."
Julian turned toward the window.
Nora watched him carefully.
"Don't go to his house."
Julian gave a bitter smile.
"You think I'm going to lose control again."
"I think you're angry, and you have every reason to be. I'm reminding you that anger isn't a legal strategy."
He nodded.
"I know."
Then Nora placed another document on the table.
It was a certified financial record connecting Northbridge Holdings to a loan payment.
The borrower was listed.
Warren Mercer.
Julian stared at the name.
His brother's personal business obligations had been paid with money routed from companies funded by Lily's trust.
The deeper beneficiary was no longer merely suggested by addresses or initials.
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It was Warren himself.
And Julian finally understood why his brother had worked so hard to stop the accounting.
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