Chapter 7: Grace Finds the Rest of It
Grace Tan worked out of a quiet office on the fourth floor of a building that smelled like old paper and strong coffee.
She was small, precise, and completely without warmth in the way that very competent people sometimes are.
She shook my hand once and pointed to the chair across from her desk.
"I've had two days with the preliminary documents," she said.
"I need to show you what I found before we go any further, because some of it changes the shape of what you're dealing with."
She turned her monitor so I could see it.
"The sixty-two thousand to Victor Salles — that's the visible layer.
But when I traced the source accounts, I found a second pattern." She pointed to a column of figures.
"These transfers here.
They don't go to Victor.
They go to a holding account in a different name.
The account was opened fourteen months ago."
"Whose name?"
Grace looked at me steadily.
"Lauren's maiden name."
I sat very still.
"Lauren," I said.
"The account has received transfers totaling just under twenty-nine thousand dollars over fourteen months.
Small amounts.
Irregular intervals.
Designed to avoid automatic flagging." Grace tapped the screen.
"This is not Daniel acting alone."
"Lauren knew about the gambling debt," I said slowly.
"Aaron told me she found out eight months ago."
"She may have found out about the gambling debt eight months ago," Grace said.
"But this account was opened fourteen months ago.
Which means she was involved before she claims she knew."
I thought about Lauren at the dinner table.
Her smile when Theresa placed the loaded plate in front of her.
*Oh, Mom, you're always so good to me.* The quiet giggle as I walked out.
*Some people have money, but zero manners for polite company.*
"What was the money for?" I asked.
"That I don't know yet.
The outflows from Lauren's account go to three different places.
Two are retail — high-end clothing and home goods.
The third is a legal retainer."
"A legal retainer," I repeated.
"Paid fourteen months ago to a family law firm." Grace folded her hands on the desk.
"I can't tell you what the retainer was for without a subpoena.
But the timing is notable."
Fourteen months ago.
Two months before I had agreed to increase Daniel's monthly allowance because he said his mother needed roof repairs.
Two months before I had signed off on a second joint account to make the household transfers easier.
Someone had been planning this before I had any idea there was anything to plan for.
"Can you document all of this clearly enough for legal proceedings?" I asked.
"I already have," Grace said.
She slid a bound folder across the desk.
"This is the full preliminary report.
Your attorney gets a copy this afternoon."
I opened the first page.
Clean columns.
Dates.
Amounts.
Account numbers.
Signatures.
"Grace," I said.
"Is there anything in here that implicates Aaron directly?"
She considered this.
"His name does not appear on any transfer.
But two of the transfers to Victor's account were made from a device registered to an IP address at Aaron and Lauren's home."
"So he may have known more than he told me."
"That is a question for your attorney," Grace said carefully.
I closed the folder.
"What happens now with the financial crimes investigation into Victor?"
"They'll pull the transfer records as part of their case.
Daniel's name will surface.
When it does, the investigators will contact your attorney.
At that point, Daniel's cooperation — or lack of it — becomes the central variable."
I stood up.
"Thank you."
"One more thing," Grace said.
She didn't stand.
"Lauren's legal retainer.
The firm she paid — I looked them up.
They specialize in one area."
I waited.
"Contested asset protection," Grace said.
"Specifically for spouses anticipating divorce proceedings initiated by a wealthier partner."
The room was very quiet.
Lauren had paid a lawyer to protect herself from a divorce that hadn't happened yet.
Fourteen months ago.
While she was still sitting at Theresa's dinner table laughing at me.
I picked up the folder.
May you like
"Send everything to my attorney."
"Already sent," Grace said.
