Chapter 21 - THE BENEFICIARY OF ROSALIND’S MISSING TRUST WAS NOT ELIASCaleb found the trust.
Eventually.
Not hidden offshore.
Not secret.
Simply dormant.
The account had been placed under litigation hold after Rosalind’s death because beneficiary instructions referenced an attachment that could not be located.
Six hundred and twelve thousand dollars.
Now worth nearly nine hundred thousand.
Elias expected White Rose House.
Wrong.
Beneficiary:
Caroline Vance, if living.
If deceased:
Adeline Marie Vance.
Adeline stared at paperwork.
“No.”
Her attorney looked up.
“That is what instrument says.”
“No.”
Elias understood reaction.
Money from dead aunt.
Originally intended for dead sister.
Too much history attached.
“When did Rosalind change it?”
“Three weeks before Caroline died.”
Adeline closed eyes.
Rosalind had tried to create escape money.
Perhaps for Caroline.
Then Caroline died.
The contingent beneficiary became Adeline.
Rosalind never told her.
Why?
Caleb found letter attached to trust file.
Not personal.
Instructions.
Funds are intended to permit beneficiary to leave employment, housing, relationship, contract or family dependence without requiring permission from any Vance or Falcone family member.
Adeline read line again.
Rosalind had designed a freedom fund.
Years before White Rose House.
Not same thing.
But same instinct.
Choice.
Then attorney continued.
“There’s a problem.”
Of course.
“What?”
“The trust references Exhibit Blue.”
Everyone went still.
The blue book.
Or blue file.
Exhibit described conditions under which trustee could release funds immediately.
Without it, money remained frozen.
Wren Calder had served as drafting counsel.
Malcolm Wren personally.
Adeline almost laughed.
“He knew.”
“Yes.”
“About me?”
“Your name was in document.”
“So while Dante was searching for me…”
“He may have known you were financially protected.”
“But why not tell Dante?”
Elias answered.
“Leverage.”
Wren collected things.
Secrets.
Signatures.
Dependency.
Adeline asked:
“Can he claim money?”
“No.”
“Can his firm?”
“No.”
“Then why care?”
Attorney turned page.
“Because Exhibit Blue also apparently contains certification of why Caroline required emergency financial independence.”
Meaning evidence.
Possibly handwritten.
Possibly signed.
Possibly naming Dante.
Wren.
Others.
Rachel looked pale.
“I think I saw it.”
All turned.
“When?”
“Boston.”
“With Rosalind?”
Rachel nodded.
“What was in it?”
“I only saw first page.”
“What did it say?”
Rachel looked at Adeline.
“It wasn’t about Caroline having an affair.”
“It was about Caroline being afraid her confidentiality agreement had been forged.”
Silence.
Adeline whispered:
“Forged?”
Rachel nodded.
“And she said she could prove it because…”
Rachel stopped.
“Because what?”
“The agreement listed a witness.”
“Who?”
Rachel swallowed.
“Celeste Falcone.”
Adeline stared.
May you like
Celeste had said she never watched Caroline sign.
Yet her name might be on the document saying she did.
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