Chapter 5 - The Little Girl on Victoria's List
“Why is Lucy's name on that paper?”
Julian's voice was dangerously quiet.
Michael stared at the floor.
“I found the list in Victoria's desk yesterday.”
“Yesterday?”
“I thought she was gathering information about Allison.”
“You knew she was investigating an eight-year-old child, and you said nothing?”
Michael looked ashamed.
“Victoria told me Allison had stolen confidential documents.”
Julian slammed his palm against the desk.
“Stop hiding behind what Victoria told you!”
Michael flinched.
For a moment, Julian saw the little brother who had followed him around their father's house, always wanting approval.
Then he remembered Allison lying unconscious beneath the ballroom lights.
“Tell me everything.”
Michael took a breath.
“Victoria wanted Allison accused of stealing from the trust. She said the girl would make Allison cooperate.”
Julian felt sick.
“What girl?”
“Lucy.”
Julian picked up his phone.
“Daniel, get me Allison's sister's address. Now.”
Diane Reed lived in a modest apartment building near downtown Tampa.
When Daniel contacted her, she reported something disturbing.
A woman claiming to represent the Ricci Family Foundation had called earlier that evening.
The caller said Allison was being investigated for alcohol abuse and financial misconduct.
She wanted Diane to bring Lucy to a private family services office the following morning.
Diane had refused.
But someone had also delivered paperwork to the building.
The envelope contained a photograph of Lucy leaving elementary school.
Beneath the photograph was a typed sentence.
Children deserve stable homes.
Julian stared at the image on Daniel's phone.
His anger became something colder.
Victoria hadn't simply tried to silence a maid.
She had threatened the one person Allison couldn't bear to lose.
“Call the police,” Julian ordered. “And tell Diane not to open her door to anyone she doesn't recognize.”
Daniel nodded.
“What about Michael?”
Julian looked toward his brother.
“Stay here. You're going to give investigators a complete statement.”
Michael didn't protest.
At the hospital, Allison listened as Julian explained what they'd found.
When he showed her the photograph of Lucy, she started shaking.
“Who took that?”
“We don't know yet.”
“Why would anyone photograph my daughter?”
Julian told her about the documents.
He didn't soften the details.
Allison climbed out of bed before he finished.
“I need to go get her.”
“Your doctor hasn't discharged you.”
“I don't care.”
She reached for her shoes.
Julian stepped aside.
“Allison, I can arrange protection for both of you.”
She turned sharply.
“Protection from whom? Your fiancée?”
The words stopped him.
Allison's eyes filled with tears.
“I spent all evening being called a drunk in front of strangers. Someone put something in my water. Now there's a picture of my child in a threatening envelope.”
Her voice broke.
“And the people responsible all seem to have keys to your house.”
Julian said nothing.
“You may be used to having people afraid of your family, Mr. Ricci. I'm not.”
He absorbed the accusation.
She was right.
His power had protected the family name for years.
It hadn't protected the people working beneath that name.
“I'll ask a detective to speak with you directly,” he said. “You can decide what help you want from me.”
Allison wiped her cheeks.
“And I want Lucy to stay with my sister until I can bring her home myself.”
“Then that's what happens.”
For the first time that night, Allison seemed to believe he was listening.
The next morning, investigators confirmed Diane and Lucy were safe.
The threatening delivery had been recorded by the apartment building's entrance camera.
The courier worked for a private security company previously employed by Harbor Meridian Holdings.
Daniel sent the footage to the detective handling Allison's poisoning.
Meanwhile, Allison's toxicology results confirmed that she'd ingested a powerful sedating medication.
The dose could have been especially dangerous without immediate treatment.
The second server, Nora, had been exposed to the same substance.
Julian stood outside Allison's hospital room when a young man approached.
He was tall, with dark hair, thoughtful brown eyes, and a faint surgical scar visible above his shirt collar.
He carried a battered leather satchel.
“Julian Ricci?”
Julian turned.
“Yes.”
The young man hesitated.
“I'm Elliot Hayes.”
For several seconds, Julian couldn't speak.
The resemblance was unmistakable.
Elliot had Antonio's eyes.
And the same slight, crooked smile Julian remembered from his father's younger photographs.
“You're my brother,” Julian said.
Elliot nodded.
“I guess that depends on whether you're willing to call me that.”
Julian looked at him.
“You should've come to me.”
“I tried.”
“When?”
“Three years ago. I sent a letter to your office.”
“I never received it.”
Elliot gave a tired smile.
“Michael said you weren't interested.”
Julian felt another piece of his trust in Michael break.
“Michael told me you didn't want to meet me.”
Elliot looked down.
“Then he's been lying to both of us.”
Julian opened the hospital room door.
“There's someone you should meet.”
Allison looked up as Elliot entered.
He introduced himself simply.
“I'm Elliot. I heard what happened to you, and I'm sorry.”
Allison studied him.
“Did you send Nora to the reception?”
Elliot didn't evade the question.
“Yes.”
“Did you know she was in danger?”
“I knew she was taking a risk. I didn't know anyone would poison her.”
Allison looked straight at him.
“People with money keep saying they didn't know.”
Elliot lowered his eyes.
“You're right.”
The answer surprised her.
He pulled a chair beside the bed.
“Nora was trying to prove that money meant for sick children had been stolen. I encouraged her to investigate.”
“And she nearly died.”
“Yes.”
“So did I.”
Elliot nodded.
“I can't undo that. But I can help make sure the people responsible can't do it again.”
Allison folded her arms.
“Then tell the police everything you know.”
“I already have an appointment with them.”
Julian watched the exchange.
Elliot hadn't tried to intimidate Allison or win her sympathy.
He'd accepted responsibility for the risk he'd encouraged Nora to take.
Julian wished he could say the same about every member of his family.
That afternoon, Elliot showed Julian a folder containing five years of hospital payment records.
Every page had been gathered from legitimate statements, donor reports, and public filings.
“The money was supposed to pay for surgeries, rehabilitation, equipment, and transportation for children who couldn't afford care,” Elliot explained.
Julian examined the accounts.
“My father established the fund?”
“Yes. After I recovered, he wanted other families to have the same chance.”
“Then why did he name you trustee?”
Elliot's voice softened.
“Because he wanted me to remember what the money was for.”
Julian looked at the young man.
For years, he'd assumed his father trusted him more than anyone else.
Yet Antonio had entrusted his most personal legacy to a son Julian had never met.
It hurt more than he expected.
Elliot noticed.
“I didn't ask for it.”
“I know.”
“And I don't want a hundred and twenty million dollars.”
Julian looked up.
“I want the hospital to have what Dad promised it.”
For the first time, Julian felt proud of his younger brother.
Then Daniel entered.
His expression told Julian something was wrong.
“The bank's compliance department found another account connected to Harbor Meridian.”
Julian stood.
“How much?”
“Two million dollars.”
“Who's the account holder?”
Daniel glanced toward Allison.
She looked confused.
“What?”
Daniel set the report on the bedside table.
The account had been opened using a Florida identification number, employment information, and a residential address.
All belonging to Allison Reed.
Her name appeared beneath the words:
AUTHORIZED BENEFICIARY — $2,000,000.
Allison stared at the page.
“I've never seen that account.”
Julian immediately understood.
Victoria wasn't merely planning to accuse Allison of drinking on the job.
She was arranging to make her the person who stole the hospital's money.
Then Daniel's phone rang.
He listened briefly.
When he hung up, his face was grim.
“The financial crimes investigator just received an anonymous complaint,” he said.
Julian looked at him.
“Against whom?”
May you like
Daniel turned toward Allison.
“Against you. For embezzlement.”
