Their investigation revealed that Margaret Hale had used her position to authorize payments to companies controlled by a network of wealthy investors.
But Margaret had not acted alone.
A senior executive at Northbridge Capital had created the false records, while several company officers had signed documents without understanding the full transactions.
“Who was the executive?” Alexander asked.
Eleanor looked at him.
“Jonathan Pierce.”
Alexander stood abruptly.
“Jonathan was Thomas’s attorney.”
“He was also the person who designed the legal structure that concealed the transfers.”
Emily looked stunned.
“Why would Thomas trust him?”
“Because Jonathan had helped establish the original companies. Thomas believed he could persuade him to correct the records.”
Eleanor explained that Jonathan had secretly cooperated with Margaret. When Daniel threatened to report the fraud, the two arranged for documents to be altered so that Daniel appeared to have authorized the transfers.
Thomas discovered the deception shortly before his death.
He planned to present the evidence to the authorities, but he died before he could do so.
“Was his death an accident?” Alexander asked.
Eleanor looked down at her cup.
“I cannot prove otherwise. Thomas had been drinking, and the weather was bad. His boat was found damaged. But I learned afterward that someone had removed the navigation records from his vehicle.”
“Why didn’t you tell the police?”
“I tried. But the evidence I possessed was incomplete, and Margaret warned me that the girls’ identities would become public if I continued.”
Victoria looked at her mother.
“She said she was protecting me.”
“She may have believed that at first. But once the financial scandal became a threat to her reputation, she began protecting herself.”
Eleanor brought out a small metal box.
Inside were original letters, account statements, and a digital storage device.
