Chapter 9 - THE PEOPLE DANIEL STOLE FROM
The next morning Sarah contacted an attorney.
Not Daniel's family lawyer.
Rachel found someone else.
Miriam Wells specialized in financial fraud and high-asset divorce cases.
Sarah showed her everything.
The photographs.
Transfers.
Emails.
Estate documents.
Storage-unit videos.
Miriam listened for nearly two hours.
Then she said:
“Do not confront him.”
Ethan smiled slightly.
“That seems to be everyone's favorite sentence.”
Miriam didn't smile.
“If these records are authentic, Daniel may have committed more than marital financial misconduct.”
Sarah looked at Rachel.
“What else?”
“Forgery. Misappropriation. Possibly fraud involving company funds.”
Miriam pointed at Evelyn's name.
“We need to know what happened inside Harper Strategic Consulting.”
Rachel had an idea.
Former employees.
By afternoon they located Mark Delaney, Daniel's former business partner.
Mark agreed to meet.
When Sarah entered the coffee shop, he looked stunned.
“Daniel told me you moved.”
Sarah stopped.
“Moved where?”
“Arizona.”
She almost laughed.
“I'm still in the same house.”
Mark's expression changed.
He began talking.
Two years earlier Harper Strategic Consulting managed several investment accounts for small family businesses.
Money began disappearing.
Not enough at first to attract attention.
Then a client noticed irregular transfers.
Mark confronted Daniel.
Daniel blamed Evelyn.
Evelyn blamed an accounting software error.
The client threatened legal action.
Daniel quietly used company reserves to replace some of the missing funds.
Then Mark discovered something worse.
Accounts connected to Northline Holdings.
He demanded an audit.
Daniel bought him out before the audit happened.
“Where did the buyout money come from?” Sarah asked.
Mark shook his head.
“I assumed financing.”
Sarah knew better.
Rachel's transfers.
Sarah's inheritance.
Their savings.
Possibly stolen client money.
Every source had been mixed together.
Daniel had built a private escape fund using money taken from anyone who trusted him.
Mark leaned forward.
“Sarah, how bad is this?”
She answered honestly.
“I don't know yet.”
That evening Daniel came home cheerful.
He brought flowers.
“For you.”
Sarah accepted them.
“What's the occasion?”
“Do I need one?”
He kissed her forehead.
Behind him, Chloe watched from the stairs.
Daniel had no idea Rachel was upstairs in the guest room.
No idea Sarah had an attorney.
No idea Mark Delaney had agreed to provide old accounting records.
No idea his entire family knew.
At dinner, Daniel announced another piece of bad news.
“The bank may start foreclosure proceedings.”
Sarah put down her glass.
“When?”
“A few weeks.”
Daniel sighed.
“I've tried everything.”
Sarah looked directly into his eyes.
“No.”
Daniel paused.
“What?”
She smiled.
May you like
“I said I'm sure you've tried everything.”
For the first time, Daniel looked uneasy.
