Chapter 2 - THE TRUST CLAIRE LEFT BEHIND
Daniel took the photograph to family attorney Rebecca Sloan. She had handled Claire’s estate and the Carter-Walker child trust.
Claire inherited a portfolio of rental homes and insurance proceeds from her father. When she was declared legally dead, the assets passed into trust for Eli. Daniel was his son’s guardian, but Diane became administrative trustee because Daniel was still a suspect during the first months of the disappearance.
He was cleared. The trustee arrangement never changed.
“Why?” Daniel asked.
Rebecca reviewed the instrument. A replacement required either Diane’s resignation or proof of misconduct.
One clause troubled her. If Eli developed a severe emotional disorder requiring residential care, trustee powers expanded. Diane could sell properties and use principal for treatment without Daniel’s approval.
Hannah had recently scheduled Eli for a trauma evaluation.
Daniel requested account statements. Diane sent polished annual summaries but no leases, invoices, or bank records.
“You’re making my mother sound like a criminal because a child drew a door,” Hannah said.
“I’m asking how our son’s money is managed.”
“Claire chose Mom.”
That was false. The trust was signed after Claire vanished using an emergency court order. Diane had been appointed by a judge on the recommendation of Claire’s attorney at the time.
That attorney was Diane’s brother, Thomas Walker.
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Thomas died three years ago. His archived file contained a sealed declaration from a woman identified only as C.W.
The declaration was dated eleven months after Claire’s presumed death.
