Chapter 13 - The Accusation Against MarisThe letter arrived on Friday morning.
It accused Maris Flores of unauthorized access to financial documents, breach of confidentiality, and possession of proprietary information belonging to the Nora Wren Water Safety Fund.
It also alleged that she had misused her position as housekeeper to obtain records unrelated to her duties.
Maris read the document with trembling hands.
"I didn't steal anything."
Vera Shah sat beside her.
"Tell me exactly what happened."
Maris explained that Thalia had repeatedly asked her to handle courier envelopes and delivery confirmations.
Some documents were left openly in the household study.
Others were handed directly to her with instructions to obtain signatures.
Maris had photographed invoices after being asked to certify deliveries that had not occurred.
"Did you take original documents?"
"No."
"Did you enter a locked office?"
"No."
"Did you use someone else's password?"
"No."
Vera nodded.
"Then we can respond accurately and preserve the context."
Maris looked at the letter.
"They're trying to ruin me."
"They're trying to establish a version of events favorable to their client. That doesn't mean their allegations are true."
Maris swallowed.
"Will I lose the chance to testify?"
"No. The credibility and admissibility questions are for investigators and courts to evaluate. An accusation from an opposing attorney does not erase what you witnessed."
Vera opened a new folder.
"We'll preserve your photographs, messages, notes, and the original files. We'll also document when and why you received the papers."
Maris nodded.
She had never wanted to become part of a financial investigation.
She wanted to keep children safe.
She wanted a stable job.
She wanted her sister's son to learn to swim at the public pool.
But the conspiracy had reached into all those parts of her life.
At the villa, Bennett received a copy of the same letter.
His attorney, Graham Ellery, reviewed it.
"Did you authorize this?"
Bennett shook his head.
"No."
"Did the foundation?"
"Not to my knowledge."
Graham checked the sender.
"The law firm says it represents Thalia personally."
Bennett frowned.
"Then why is it claiming to act for the foundation?"
"That's one of the questions we'll ask."
Bennett picked up his phone.
He called Cora Chen.
She answered on the second ring.
"Have you seen the letter?"
"Yes."
"Did the board approve it?"
"No."
Bennett felt anger rise.
"She's using Nora's foundation to threaten Maris."
Cora spoke carefully.
"The letter appears to blur Thalia's personal interests with the foundation's. Our independent counsel is addressing that."
Bennett looked toward the window.
"What do you need from me?"
"Cooperation. And restraint."
He almost laughed.
"Those aren't usually my strengths."
"I know."
Then Cora softened.
"But you're learning."
That afternoon, Iris Han uncovered another discrepancy.
The foundation's records showed that Blue Lantern Aquatics had supplied filtration equipment to a different municipal facility.
The invoice included serial numbers for six large mechanical units.
Iris contacted the manufacturer through documented channels.
The manufacturer confirmed that the numbers corresponded to equipment sold years earlier to an unrelated commercial buyer.
The equipment had not been purchased for the foundation's project.
Iris added the finding to her report.
The questionable payments were no longer merely unsupported.
Some appeared to be supported by false documentation.
She informed the special committee and independent counsel.
The lawyers began preparing appropriate referrals to authorities responsible for investigating charitable financial misconduct.
Meanwhile, Julian Rusk sat alone in his office, watching the electronic records preservation notice appear on his computer.
He had worked for the foundation for six years.
Nora had hired him.
She had trusted him to manage grants carefully.
At her funeral, he had cried.
He told himself those tears had been genuine.
Perhaps they had been.
But afterward, when Reid Calder offered him consulting payments for steering contracts, Julian accepted.
At first, the payments were small.
Then they grew.
He had convinced himself that the foundation still helped children.
Some grants were legitimate.
Some swimming lessons were funded.
The stolen money, he reasoned, came from an investment reserve large enough to absorb the losses.
He avoided thinking about Bellhaven's locked gate.
Or Theo, waiting for lessons.
Now the preservation notice warned him that deleting or altering relevant records could create additional legal consequences.
Julian stared at the screen.
His phone rang.
Thalia.
"Have you handled the audit problem?"
He swallowed.
"They've locked me out of some systems."
"Then use your backups."
"Thalia, I think we need lawyers."
"I already have lawyers."
"Criminal lawyers."
She went silent.
Julian continued.
"Iris Han is tracing the vendors. If she reaches the management company, she'll find Reid."
Thalia's voice became cold.
"Reid can handle himself."
"What about me?"
"You knew the arrangement."
Julian stared at his desk.
He had known.
He had signed.
He had accepted money.
But he had not pushed a child into a swimming pool.
And now Thalia was treating him as disposable.
He thought of the files he had preserved on an encrypted external drive.
The original invoices.
The email approvals.
The bank transfer instructions.
And one message from Thalia that had frightened him even before the pool incident.
If Maris talks, Bennett will lose his trust in her. I can arrange that.
May you like
Julian looked toward the locked office door.
For the first time, he considered that the smartest way to protect himself might be to stop protecting Thalia.
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