Chapter 8 - The CFO Disappeared
Martin Keller vanished two days before his scheduled interview with investigators.
His car was found at O'Hare.
No flight under his name.
Beatrice claimed ignorance.
Nobody believed her.
Forensic accountants found payments from a Sterling shell company to an account in Belize.
Beneficiary linked to Martin.
Then Cynthia remembered something.
Her mother kept a second phone.
Police recovered it under warrant.
Messages revealed Beatrice warning Martin.
They're looking.
Another:
Don't let Arthur talk.
Another:
Claire knows too much.
My name.
That changed the case.
Then:
MARTIN:
Should've handled Rowan before wedding.
BEATRICE:
Julian marrying her was handling Rowan.
There it was in writing.
The marriage had been incorporated into their strategy.
Julian read the message.
He didn't call me.
He sent one email.
I am sorry that I allowed my love for you to exist beside a situation you did not consent to understand. I didn't know the full plan. I knew enough to ask questions. I didn't. That was my failure.
I saved it.
Not because I wanted reconciliation.
Because it was the first apology he had given me that contained no request.
Martin was arrested three weeks later in Wisconsin.
He had been staying in a cabin belonging to Beatrice's cousin.
He cooperated.
And his testimony made one thing clear.
Beatrice had orchestrated the accounting fraud.
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But Arthur's signature appeared on several documents too.
My sympathy for him suddenly became complicated.
