Chapter 5 - Caroline Had Been Investigating Vivian Before She Disappeared
Ethan found the first clue in Caroline’s laptop.
A folder named:
CARTER FOUNDATION — DO NOT DELETE
Inside were spreadsheets.
Invoices.
Board minutes.
Bank transfers.
Caroline had been reviewing the family charitable foundation for almost four months.
She was not an accountant.
But she had worked in nonprofit administration before marrying Ethan.
She knew what normal grant expenses looked like.
Vivian ran the foundation.
Had for nine years.
On paper, beautifully.
Veterans’ housing.
Arts education.
Children’s rehabilitation.
Community grants.
Caroline found one recurring vendor:
North Vale Events LLC.
Over eighteen months, North Vale received $412,000.
Some services were real.
Catering.
Production.
Venue coordination.
But Caroline marked several charges:
Duplicate.
Unsupported.
Same invoice number.
Vendor ownership unclear.
Then Ethan found a note.
Ask V why North Vale payments go through Bennett Family Office.
Bennett was Vivian’s former married name.
Ethan stared at the screen.
His sister had been divorced for twelve years.
Why was a foundation vendor routing payments through an entity connected to her old family office?
Then he opened Caroline’s last document.
A draft email to the board.
Never sent.
I believe Vivian is concealing a related-party relationship and using foundation event spending to route money into privately controlled accounts. I am requesting an independent audit.
Timestamp:
The night before Caroline disappeared.
Now Ethan finally understood why Vivian might want Caroline silenced.
But stealing from a foundation did not explain the ice.
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