Chapter 5 - The Empty Apartments
Adrian had spent years believing that money made problems manageable.
If a building failed inspection, his company hired new contractors.
If a business faced a lawsuit, his lawyers investigated.
If a project lost funding, he could often provide it.
But there was no amount of money that could tell him what had happened on the road where Claire died.
Rebecca insisted he stop trying to investigate personally.
“You're a witness, Adrian. You're also the victim's husband and Oliver's father. Let the police determine whether Claire's accident involved a crime.”
He hated the advice.
He followed it anyway.
Instead, he focused on what he could lawfully examine: the foundation he funded.
Rebecca arranged an independent forensic accounting review led by Imogen Park, a certified public accountant with experience investigating nonprofit fraud.
Adrian ordered the foundation's electronic records preserved and temporarily suspended new discretionary payments until the review could identify legitimate obligations.
He also established separate emergency funding for families who depended on existing services.
Imogen began with the three properties Claire had questioned.
The first stood on West Calder Street.
Adrian visited with Rebecca and the foundation's temporary operations director.
The building had no functioning heating system.
Plastic covered broken windows.
A yellow inspection notice hung beside the entrance.
Yet foundation records listed a completed renovation, including new kitchens, bathrooms, and fire-safety equipment.
The approved payments totaled $684,000.
“Where did it go?” Adrian asked.
Imogen looked at the invoices.
“That is what we're tracing.”
At the second property, the situation was worse.
A young woman stood outside with a toddler in a stroller.
Her name was Elena Brooks.
Claire had mentioned her.
Elena recognized Adrian immediately.
“Are you here about the apartments?”
He nodded.
“I am.”
“They told us we'd be moving in by Christmas.”
Adrian looked at the boarded windows.
It was March.
“Who told you that?”
“Ms. Sterling.”
Elena reached into her bag and showed him a letter bearing the foundation's logo.
“She said everything was ready. Then somebody called and said there was a delay.”
“How long have you been waiting?”
“Six months.”
Adrian looked at the little boy in the stroller.
Oliver wasn't much younger.
“Where are you staying?”
“With my aunt. Eight people in two bedrooms.”
He wanted to tell her he'd fix everything that day.
Instead, he asked Imogen to have the independent housing coordinator contact Elena about immediate, verified placement options.
Elena studied him.
“Your wife came here once.”
Adrian felt his chest tighten.
“Claire?”
“She was angry when she saw the place.”
Elena looked toward the building.
“She said we weren't supposed to be living on promises.”
Adrian recognized the words as something Claire might have said.
“Did she tell you anything else?”
Elena hesitated.
“She asked whether a woman named Vanessa had ever shown us the apartments.”
“Yes?”
“I said no.”
Elena pushed the stroller a few inches.
“Mrs. Cole looked frightened. Not because of the building. Because somebody called her right afterward.”
“Who?”
“I don't know. But she answered, and I heard her say, 'I know what you did with the money.'”
Adrian turned toward Imogen.
The accountant's expression had sharpened.
That afternoon, her preliminary review identified a consulting company that had received payments connected to all three properties.
Summit Bridge Advisory.
Its invoices were vague.
Its listed office address belonged to a commercial mail service.
And its first payment had been approved by Vanessa Sterling.
Imogen placed three documents on the conference table.
“The transfers need further verification,” she said. “But this is no ordinary construction delay.”
Adrian studied the amounts.
May you like
Claire had been right.
And someone had made sure he never believed her.
