Chapter 6 - The Four-Hundred-Thousand-Dollar Trail
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At 8:00 AM the following morning, the financial crimes division of the Illinois State Police executed an emergency search warrant on Caroline’s private banking records.
I sat in the high-rise conference room of my corporate attorney, Harrison Sterling, reviewing the forensic financial audit.
Harrison slid a thick, red-jacketed file across the mahogany table.
“David, this wasn't just about a sadistic online following,” Harrison said, adjusting his glasses. “Caroline was drowning in illegal offshore gambling debts.”
I opened the ledger. The transactions told a story of systematic, parasitic plunder:
The College Trust Embezzlement: Over the past twenty-four months, Caroline had executed eighteen fraudulent wire transfers totaling $412,000 from Lily’s irrevocable college educational trust fund—money my late father had deposited before his death.
The Offshore Bookmakers: The funds had been routed through dummy shell accounts in Curacao to service high-stakes private sports betting lines run by a loan shark syndicate in Joliet.
The Blackmail Escrow: Victoria had discovered Caroline’s gambling twelve months ago. Instead of confronting her, Victoria had leveraged the secret to force Caroline into setting up the online video subscription channel to replenish the family accounts.
“Victoria wanted the money to pay off the mortgage on her Florida winter home,” Harrison explained, his jaw set in disgust. “They were using the proceeds from Lily's abuse videos to cover their legal liabilities.”
I closed the file with a sharp, heavy snap.
“Where are they now?” I asked.
“In separate interrogation suites at the 1st District Precinct,” Harrison replied. “They’ve spent the night pointing fingers at each other. Neither has posted bail, because the state prosecutor successfully argued that both women constitute a catastrophic flight risk.”
I stood up, adjusting my overcoat.
May you like
“Take me to the precinct,” I said. “I want to look my mother in the eye before she goes to prison.”
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