Chapter 7: The Secret Imani's Father Buried
Jalen read the name on the screen one more time.
Andre Williams.
His wife's father.
The same man who had told them to meet at the community center. The same man who had warned them not to trust the first version of the trust agreement. The same man who had spent the afternoon explaining how his own business partner might have stolen hundreds of thousands of dollars.
And now the records showed that Andre had taken control of the company that received the missing money.
Jalen slowly turned toward him.
“You told us you didn't know who owned Northbridge.””
Andre stared at the laptop.
“I said I didn't know who controlled it after the original transfers.””
“That isn't what you said.””
“Jalen, let me explain.””
“No. You let us sit here and listen to you accuse my parents while leaving your own name out of the story.””
Imani stood between them.
“Dad, is it true?””
Andre closed his eyes briefly.
“Yes.””
The answer landed like a slap.
Imani stepped backward.
“You owned Northbridge?””
“Not when the transfers began.””
“But you took control of it afterward.””
“Yes.””
“And you never told me?””
Andre looked at his daughter, his expression heavy with regret.
“I was trying to protect you.””
Jalen laughed bitterly.
“That's the excuse everybody in this family uses.””
Andre didn't react.
He opened a drawer in the desk and removed a thick envelope containing several corporate filings. He laid them beside the laptop, arranging them by date.
“Northbridge was created by Denise,” he explained.
“She approached me after Thomas died and told me the company had been used to hold certain assets temporarily. She said Marcus had arranged the transfers to keep the development business from collapsing.””
Jalen's eyes narrowed.
“And you believed her?””
“I believed part of what she said. The company was in financial trouble, and the records were incomplete. Denise claimed she had documentation showing the transfers were legitimate business transactions.””
“Where is that documentation?””
Andre looked down.
“I never received all of it.””
Imani folded her arms.
“So why did you take control of the company?””
“Because Denise wanted to dissolve it, and I believed doing so would destroy the only remaining trail of the transactions. I agreed to take over its management until the accounts could be reviewed.””
Jalen pointed at the filing.
“Then why does this say you received the controlling interest?””
“Because the transfer was structured that way.””
“By whom?””
Andre hesitated.
“Denise's attorney.””
The room fell silent.
Jalen looked at the date again.
Two weeks before his grandfather died, Denise had created a company that received suspicious transfers. After Thomas died, she transferred control of that company to Andre.
Then the money disappeared into a maze of accounts.
And somehow, both families had spent years pretending none of it had happened.
Imani sat down slowly.
“Dad, did you ever receive any of the money?””
“No.””
“Did you benefit from the company?””
Andre shook his head.
“I paid legal fees to keep it operational. I never withdrew funds for personal use.””
“Can you prove that?””
“Yes.””
He opened another folder and showed her several bank statements.
Every transaction was documented. Legal fees, filing costs, accounting expenses, and payments to maintain the company's records.
There were no transfers to Andre's personal accounts.
Jalen examined the statements.
They supported Andre's explanation, but they didn't answer every question.
“Why didn't you tell the police?”” he asked.
“Because I didn't have enough evidence to establish that a crime had occurred. I had suspicions, not proof.””
“You had a recording of my father admitting he moved the money.””
“I had a recording of him admitting he arranged transfers. That isn't the same as proving where the money went, who authorized each transaction, or whether the funds were used for legitimate company expenses.””
Jalen looked away.
He hated that Andre's answer made sense.
He hated even more that he couldn't dismiss it.
Imani picked up one of the corporate filings.
“Why was Mom involved in the company at all?””
Andre's expression changed.
“Your mother wasn't involved in the business operations. She handled certain administrative matters for the company when it was first established.””
“But she was the managing member.””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
Andre leaned back in his chair.
“Because Thomas trusted Denise to handle paperwork. She was organized, careful, and good with records. He believed she would help keep the business running smoothly.””
Jalen let out a breath.
“So my grandfather trusted my mother with the company's money, and she created the company that received the transfers.””
“That is what the documents suggest,” Andre said.
“But we still need the original banking records.””
Imani stared at the paperwork.
“Everyone keeps saying we need more evidence. How much evidence do we need before somebody admits what happened?””
Andre reached across the desk and took her hand.
“Sometimes the truth is buried under so many lies that even the people searching for it lose track of what they know.””
She pulled her hand away.
“That's not an answer.””
“No,” he admitted.
“It isn't.””
Jalen walked to the window.
Outside, the parking lot had emptied. The afternoon sun had begun to fade, casting long shadows across the pavement.
He thought about the morning.
His mother taking the keys.
His father holding the door.
The suitcases waiting in the hallway.
Had they been trying to teach him responsibility, or had they been trying to keep him away from something?
He turned back.
“Why did my parents panic when they learned we'd visited the attorney?””
Andre considered the question.
“Because the marriage activated a review of the trust. Once that review begins, the trustee can examine related financial records.””
“So they knew the money could be traced.””
“Possibly.””
“And they thought kicking us out would make us back down.””
“Possibly,” Andre repeated.
“But we shouldn't treat suspicion as a verdict.””
Jalen shook his head.
“I'm tired of everyone protecting everyone else.””
He picked up the flash drive.
“I'm taking this to the attorney.””
Andre stood.
“Wait.””
“Why?””
“Because the files contain confidential financial information. Richard Cole needs to know where they came from and how they were obtained.””
“Then come with us.””
Andre looked at Imani.
She nodded.
“Dad, we need to stop keeping secrets from each other.””
For a moment, he looked as though he might argue.
Instead, he picked up his jacket.
“Fine. We'll go together.””
They returned to Henderson, Price & Cole just before the office closed.
Richard Cole listened without interruption as Andre explained the corporate filings. When Jalen showed him the ownership schedule, the attorney removed his glasses and studied the document carefully.
“Where did you obtain this?””
“From the envelope my grandfather left,” Jalen replied.
Mr. Cole glanced at Andre.
“Does the trustee know about these records?””
“Not yet,” Andre said.
“Then the trustee needs to receive them immediately.””
Richard opened a secure file on his computer and began reviewing the documents.
He stopped when he reached the corporate amendment transferring control of Northbridge Management.
“Mr. Williams, did you sign this?””
“Yes.””
“Did you receive independent legal advice before signing?””
“Yes.””
“Did you understand that you were accepting controlling ownership of a company associated with the disputed transactions?””
Andre hesitated.
“I understood I was accepting responsibility for its records. I did not understand that the transfer would make me the controlling owner in the way described here.””
Richard turned the page toward him.
“Your signature appears beneath the transfer clause.””
Andre examined it.
“I signed the documents my attorney presented. I was told the transfer was temporary and would be reversed after the accounting review.””
“Was that promise documented?””
“Yes. In a separate letter.””
Richard looked up.
“Do you still have it?””
Andre nodded.
“I believe so.””
“Find it. That letter may be essential.””
He continued reviewing the files.
After several minutes, he closed the folder.
“There is enough here to justify a formal forensic accounting review. There is not enough to conclude that any specific person committed fraud.””
Jalen leaned forward.
“Can the review happen now?””
“I can request it today.””
“And the trust?””
Richard paused.
“The trust review will proceed separately. Your marriage does not automatically guarantee a distribution. The trustee must verify the agreement's terms, your eligibility, and whether any interference occurred.””
Imani looked disappointed, but she nodded.
“We understand.””
Richard studied the two of them.
“One more thing. Has either family offered you money in exchange for signing anything?””
“No,” Jalen said.
“Has anyone threatened you or pressured you to end the marriage?””
Jalen thought of Denise's warning.
Sometimes they lose the only family they have left.
He also remembered his father's refusal to explain anything.
“Not directly,” he replied.
Richard wrote something down.
“Contact me immediately if that changes.””
They left the office with copies of the relevant documents and instructions for the next steps.
Outside, Imani's phone rang.
Her mother.
Imani answered.
“Hello?””
Her mother's voice was strained.
“Where are you?””
“Leaving the attorney's office.””
A sharp intake of breath followed.
“You showed him the files?””
“Yes.””
“Imani, listen to me. You need to stop.””
“Why?””
“Because your father doesn't understand what he has done.””
Imani frowned.
“What has he done?””
Her mother lowered her voice.
“He took control of Northbridge because Denise promised him something.””
Jalen moved closer.
“What did she promise him?”” Imani asked.
Her mother hesitated.
Then she said, “She promised him that if he helped transfer the company, he would receive a share of the money after the trust was settled.””
Imani went still.
Jalen felt the world narrow around him.
“Mom,” Imani whispered, “are you saying Dad took money from the company?””
“No. I'm saying he was promised money. I don't know whether he ever received it.””
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“Because I thought I could fix it before it reached you.””
Imani's voice broke.
“You all keep saying that.””
Her mother began to cry.
“I was afraid.””
“Of what?””
“Of what Denise would do if she found out I still had the original ledger.””
Jalen looked sharply at Imani.
“The original ledger?””
Her mother whispered something that made Imani's eyes widen.
Then the call disconnected.
Imani stood frozen, the phone pressed to her ear.
Jalen touched her shoulder.
“What did she say?””
Imani slowly lowered the phone.
“My mother has the original ledger.””
“And?””
“She says Denise has been trying to get it back for years.””
Jalen stared at her.
“Where is it?””
Imani looked toward the street.
“Hidden somewhere my mother believes nobody would ever think to look.””
Then her phone vibrated again.
A new message appeared.
May you like
Come alone if you want to know where it is.
The sender was Denise Carter.
