"Because every time I bring up those accounts, you tell me Adrian has everything under control."
His expression tightened.
"That's not fair."
Laura looked at him.
"Isn't it?"
He stood.
"I trust Adrian."
"I know."
"He's been my partner for fifteen years."
"And what if he's wrong?"
Richard shook his head.
"You're making accusations without proof."
Laura stared at him.
Then quietly said, "That's why I'm gathering proof."
He looked away.
For several moments, neither spoke.
Then Richard asked, "Why didn't you involve me?"
Laura's eyes filled.
"I tried."
The words remained between them.
Richard remembered that conversation often after her death.
But for years, Nicole helped him remember it differently.
She told him Laura had become secretive.
That she spent unexplained hours away from home.
That Daniel Carter had been seen meeting her at a restaurant.
That Richard had every right to feel betrayed.
Nicole never made one enormous accusation.
She planted smaller ones.
A question.
A suggestion.
A sympathetic glance.
A remark delivered at just the right moment.
And Richard, exhausted and afraid his marriage was changing, began trusting Nicole's version of events more than his own wife's words.
That was the first part of the betrayal.
The second was much worse.
Daniel Carter was not Laura's lover.
He was a fifty-four-year-old forensic accountant and former financial investigator who had spent decades examining fraud involving construction companies, charitable organizations, and real-estate transactions.
Laura contacted him after a retired attorney recommended his services.
She did not want to accuse anyone publicly without evidence.
She wanted someone independent to examine the records.
Daniel agreed.
At first, he believed the discrepancies might involve sloppy accounting or unauthorized expenses.
Then Laura supplied additional documents.
The amounts were substantial.
The false vendors appeared repeatedly.
Some payments were connected to legitimate work.
Others were not.
And several transactions had been structured in ways that concealed who ultimately received the money.
Daniel began tracing the records.
He discovered that Westbridge Supply Services was controlled indirectly by an entity associated with Adrian Cole.
He also found payments that appeared to benefit Nicole Park.
The evidence did not yet establish every part of the scheme.
But it raised serious questions.
Daniel warned Laura to preserve original records and consult an attorney before confronting anyone.
He also encouraged her to speak with Richard.
Laura tried.
Repeatedly.
But by then, Richard had begun doubting her.
Nicole had shown him photographs of Laura meeting Daniel.
The photographs were genuine.
The interpretation was not.
Nicole claimed the meetings were romantic.
She also suggested Laura might be planning to leave Richard and take money from the company.
Richard did not fully believe that.
But he believed enough to become angry.
And anger made him less willing to listen.