Chapter 3 - THE CHARITY THAT TRAPPED WOMEN.
Helen’s husband, Thomas Carter, had audited Ashford Development before his death in a highway collision. Rosa’s report said he visited the mansion weeks earlier and argued with Miriam about hidden settlement accounts.
Miriam called Thomas an ambitious public employee who misunderstood private business.
Helen’s stare hardened.
“He was a state investigator. You called him middle-class whenever the evidence became expensive.”
The sealed folder contained payments to local officials, private doctors and family attorneys. The same account funded Garrick’s luxury properties and a program supposedly supporting women escaping unsafe homes.
Sienna whispered, “They used that charity to threaten me. Miriam said no shelter would accept me once Ashford withdrew funding.”
Dr. Chen replied, “A service controlled by the people you fear is not protection.”
The board froze the charity’s accounts and appointed independent counsel.
Then Fletcher found Thomas Carter’s name on a confidential nondisclosure agreement signed three days after his reported death.
Helen read the signature twice.
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“My husband did not sign this.”
The witness listed beneath it was Sienna.
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