The Missing Millions
Chapter 06 - The Missing Millions
Claire Donovan spread the records across a conference table. “The foundation disbursed seven million dollars to Asterfield over four years,” she explained. “Several descriptions call these consulting expenses, but we can't locate corresponding deliverables.”
Salvatore stared at the dates. The largest transfers occurred in the six months before Elena died. A second series began after Vanessa entered the household.
“How did our auditors miss this?”
“They reported exceptions to a subcommittee chaired by Mercer. We're investigating whether the reports were properly escalated.”
Salvatore had spent years believing the foundation was his wife's legacy, untouched by his private disputes. Now he saw how his neglect had left it vulnerable.
He called his longtime associate Matteo Bellini, who managed investments for the Vance group. Matteo answered from Milan, sounding unusually tense.
“Julian Mercer is working with you again?” Salvatore asked.
“No,” Matteo said too quickly.
“Don't lie.”
Silence. Then Matteo admitted Mercer had attended a financing meeting on Vanessa's behalf.
“Why would Vanessa need financing?”
“She claimed you planned to transfer controlling assets into a family trust. She said she needed liquidity before the change.”
Salvatore hadn't authorized any such transfer. Claire began examining whether documents bearing his signature had been submitted. She warned him not to assume each signature was forged until the electronic records had been preserved and analyzed.
That evening, Nicholas asked why his father had been speaking angrily on the phone.
“I'm upset about a grown-up problem,” Salvatore said. “It isn't your fault, and I won't take it out on you.”
Nicholas absorbed that sentence as though it were a new rule. “Do grown-ups say sorry?”
“Yes.”
“Then why didn't Vanessa?”
Salvatore searched for an answer that would not burden a child with adult explanations. “Some grown-ups make harmful choices and refuse to admit them. That's their responsibility.”
Nicholas thought for a while. “Mommy Elena said secrets are heavy.”
“She was right.”
“She said if something felt too heavy, I could ask you to carry it.”
Salvatore fought tears. “I should have been here to help.”
Nicholas laid his uninjured hand over his father's. “You're here now.”
The next morning Claire called. “We have an important lead. Before the crash Elena scheduled a meeting with a forensic accountant. He never got to speak with her.”
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“Is he alive?”
“Yes. And he still has a copy of the message she sent.”
