Chapter 7: When the Doors Opened
The recording continued.
Nolan’s voice came through clearly.
“And if Bennett challenges the transfer?”
Diane answered, “His own son’s signature will make him look either incompetent or dishonest.”
Vanessa closed her eyes.
Diane charged toward the laptop.
I caught the table before she could overturn it.
“Turn that off!” she shouted.
“You wanted everyone to hear what you thought of my father,” I said.
“Now they can hear what you planned for him.”
The ballroom doors opened again.
Two financial investigators entered with a uniformed officer and a woman carrying a sealed case.
Nolan backed into a chair.
Diane pointed at Arthur.
“He arranged this.
He brought officials to intimidate me at my daughter’s wedding.”
The woman showed her identification.
“My name is Grace Hall, senior investigator for the foundation’s insurer.
We were called when an unauthorized transfer triggered a fraud alert.”
“Then question him,” Diane said.
“Arthur controls the foundation.”
Grace set the case on a table.
“Mr.
Bennett voluntarily surrendered his phone, access card, and financial records forty minutes ago.”
Nolan looked at Arthur.
“You knew before the ceremony?”
“I knew someone had copied my signature.
I did not know who.”
Diane laughed bitterly.
“So you came dressed like that to test us.”
Arthur touched the sleeve of his jacket.
“My wife bought this for me during our first winter together.
I wore it because today should have been about family.”
Diane’s smile disappeared.
Grace turned to Nolan.
“Please hand me your phone.”
“I need to speak to counsel.”
“You may.
First, place the phone on the table.”
He looked toward the blocked exit, then at Diane.
“She told me the board had approved everything.”
Diane swung toward him.
“Don’t you dare.”
“You promised my share would be protected.”
“You moved the money!”
“On your instructions!”
Grace raised one hand.
“Both of you, stop.”
Diane grabbed Vanessa’s wrist.
“Tell them your father and Arthur planned this to humiliate me.”
Vanessa pulled free.
“I will tell them you used me.”
“If you say one more word, I will make certain you lose everything.”
“I already lost Daniel.”
Her voice cracked, and Michael put an arm around her shoulders.
Diane faced me.
“Daniel, think about this.
Withdraw the accusation, marry Vanessa, and I’ll return six million tonight.
The rest covers my losses.”
“You are offering to return money that isn’t yours.”
“I am offering to save your family from scandal.”
“My family is standing beside me.”
Arthur’s hand settled on my shoulder.
Grace opened the sealed case and removed printed bank records.
“The receiving company was registered to Diane Cole.
The overseas instructions came from Mr.
Nolan’s device.”
Nolan sank into a chair.
Diane’s eyes raced across the room.
“Vanessa gave me Daniel’s signature.
Charge her too.”
Vanessa went white.
I stepped between them.
“You would sacrifice your own daughter?”
“She made her choice.”
Grace looked at Vanessa.
“Did you knowingly authorize a transfer?”
“No.
But I gave her the signature, and I’ll answer for that.”
Diane snatched a candle from the altar and swept it toward the papers.
Ms.
Carter knocked it from her hand before the flame touched them.
The officer moved forward.
Diane pulled away.
“Take your hands off me.
I own half the people in this room.”
One by one, the guests lowered their eyes.
Grace held up Nolan’s unlocked phone.
May you like
A transfer schedule glowed on the screen, followed by a final message from Diane:
**AFTER THE MONEY CLEARS, DESTROY EVERYTHING.**
