dormant accounts, intending to replace it when the grants arrived.”
Jason closed his eyes.
Mara continued.
“Then Leonard Vale discovered what I had done.”
The name meant nothing to me.
It meant something to Vivian.
Her face went still.
“Leonard was the Thornton group’s chief legal officer,” she said. “For twenty-two years.”
The recording played on.
“He threatened to expose me unless I helped expand the transfers through Northbridge. By then, the amounts were too large. The money was no longer supporting research. It was moving into private accounts controlled by Vale and two outside partners.”
Mara took a shaky breath.
“When Daniel Bennett found the irregularities, I copied his report and gave the original to Vale. I told myself I was protecting the foundation. The truth is that I was protecting myself.”
My father sat heavily on the bench.
“After Ethan confronted me, I agreed to return the copy
