Chapter 4 - THE DOCUMENT CELESTE WANTED SIGNED
Police searched the mansion under warrant.
Inside Celeste’s bedroom safe they found a folder.
Not a will.
Not a confession.
Documents.
Draft trust amendments.
Asset-management resolutions.
A proposed sale of Ashcroft Biotech shares.
A consulting agreement with a company called Doyle Capital Advisory.
Doyle was Celeste’s maiden name.
The company belonged to her.
If Celeste became interim protector, she planned to appoint Doyle Capital as “special transition advisor.”
Annual fee:
$1.8 million.
Success fee on asset sales:
three percent.
Evelyn stared at the documents.
“She didn’t need my fortune.”
Mara nodded.
“She needed access to it.”
That was worse in a different way.
The trust itself was difficult to steal.
But fee structures could drain it legally-looking transaction by transaction.
Celeste had spent years cultivating the image of a responsible aunt.
She attended trustee meetings.
Reviewed tax documents.
Called herself “family steward.”
May you like
Evelyn used to find it annoying.
Now it looked like preparation.
