Chapter 3 - The Ghost in the Ledgers
"Two months ago," I addressed the court, ignoring Blake completely, "I hired a forensic accountant to prepare Northstar Advisory Group for this divorce. During the audit, she found anomalies not just in my company's ledgers, but in the family trust my father left behind. Money had been bleeding out for three years. So, I took the findings to the FBI."
My mother let out a sharp, breathless whimper. Russell, my brother-in-law, physically sank into the gallery bench, looking like he might vomit.
"The envelope contains a summary of a federal investigation," I continued, my voice ice-cold and methodical. "It details how my husband, Blake Donnelly, used his power of attorney to siphon four million dollars from my father's trust into offshore accounts. Accounts that are jointly held by my mother, Judith Keene, my sister, Taryn, and her husband."
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"Lies!" Taryn shrieked from the gallery, completely forgetting where she was. "She's lying! Blake told us it was our rightful inheritance! He said Dad left it to us!"
"Order in my courtroom!" Judge Sloan barked, slamming her gavel down so hard the sound cracked like a whip. She glared at Taryn. "One more outburst from the gallery and you will wait out this hearing in a holding cell."
