Chapter 15 - The Buried Audit
The next morning, Marcus arrived at the house with a certified forensic accountant named David Ramos.
They set up their equipment in Evelyn’s former study, spreading out ledger books dating back five years.
"When Austin worked at Vance Holdings, he didn't just steal the half million he blamed on you," David said.
He tapped a red marker against a ledger that showed recurring transfers to a shell company called Zenith Meridian.
"He funneled over four million dollars through secondary accounts."
"Austin wasn't smart enough to pull that off by himself," I pointed out, leaning over the spread sheets.
"Exactly," Marcus agreed.
"Austin was a front man. The signature authorizing the off-shore routing isn't Austin’s, and it isn't yours."
David magnified a digital scan on his monitor.
The signature belonged to Julian Thorne, the principal developer behind the Columbus North Riverfront Project.
Julian Thorne was Abigail’s uncle and the chief financial benefactor behind Austin’s social ascent.
"They needed Evelyn’s historic property," Marcus explained quietly.
"The zoning laws on this entire boulevard forbid high-density commercial towers unless the Vance estate is absorbed into the riverfront parcel."
The truth slammed into me like physical blow.
Austin hadn't just tried to rob me out of sibling rivalry or greed.
He had planned to demolish our grandmother’s estate to pay off an illicit development debt to Thorne.
My two-year prison sentence had simply been an obstacle removal so they could seize the deed without opposition.
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"If Thorne is behind this," I said, looking out at the gardens, "then Austin isn't the apex predator."
"No," Marcus answered. "Austin is just the pawn who thought he was a king."
