Chapter 11 - The Inheritance Audit
The morning sun cast a sharp, geometric shadow across the private audit room on the fiftieth floor of Ashford Capital. I sat at the center of a mahogany table surrounded by senior forensic accountants from Deloitte and federal marshals, reviewing the financial wreckage left behind by David Vance.
Beside me, Julian unclipped a secure leather briefcase containing the true foundational ledgers of the firm.
“He didn't just loot the corporate accounts,” one of the lead forensic auditors said, adjusting his glasses as he pushed a stack of financial statements toward me. “Mr. Vance systematically redirected capital from our international shipping subsidiaries into offshore shell companies in the Cayman Islands over the last four years.”
“How much is missing?” I asked, keeping my voice entirely steady.
“Three billion, four hundred million dollars,” the accountant replied grimly. “And much of it was tied up in speculative high-risk derivatives that are set to liquidate by midnight tonight. If those assets aren't frozen and recovered immediately, the entire firm will face forced insolvency.”
I looked over at Julian. He didn't blink. Seven years in a Swiss medical facility had not dulled his legendary financial acumen; if anything, his focus was sharper, honed by years of quiet observation.
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“He thought he could bury the paper trail behind layers of proxy signatures,” Julian said, tracing a finger along a complex web of corporate entities on the flowchart. “But David was always sloppy with his personal ledger. He used his personal email server for offshore transfers in 2023.”
I stood up, adjusting the strap of my structured blazer, and picked up my tablet. “Then let’s lock down every single server before the markets open in Tokyo.”
