“No,” I said, standing. “Daniel surrendered control three years ago when he discovered the missing money. I became protector of the compliance trust. Every asset you tried to steal was bait attached to an audit trigger.”
Eleanor stared at me as if I had changed species.
“You planned this?”
“Daniel planned protection. You planned the crime.”
The judge ordered the assets frozen. Federal agents arrested Victor for conspiracy and document fraud. Eleanor was charged with attempted bank fraud, pension theft, forgery, obstruction, and conspiracy.
Her lawyer withdrew before lunch.
She lunged toward me as officers approached. “You signed everything!”
“I signed permission for you to prove exactly what you were.”
Her voice cracked. “I am Daniel’s mother.”
“And I was his wife. You used his dying body as a signature machine.”