Chapter 5 - The Flash Drive.
.Claire refused to plug the flash drive into any personal computer.
She sealed it in an evidence envelope and called a digital forensic specialist she trusted.
Adrian wanted answers immediately, but Helena asked him not to rush.
"That's what Vivian wants," she said.
He looked at her.
"What do you mean?"
"She creates panic, then gives people the explanation that benefits her."
Adrian realized Helena understood Vivian's methods better than anyone in the house.
For months, Vivian had controlled information before controlling people.
The digital specialist arrived shortly after midnight with a clean laptop and storage equipment.
He made a forensic copy of the drive while Claire documented the process.
The first folder contained scanned contracts.
The second contained spreadsheets.
The third was labeled CAMERAS.
Adrian felt Helena's hand tense in his.
They opened it.
Dozens of short video files appeared.
The oldest recording showed Helena arriving at the mansion eight months earlier.
She walked through the front door willingly.
Vivian embraced her.
That clip alone destroyed Vivian's later claim that Helena had appeared unexpectedly and demanded a place to stay.
Another recording showed Owen entering the guest suite while Helena was downstairs.
He removed a phone from a charging table and slipped it into his jacket.
Helena stared at the screen.
"That's my phone."
Adrian's voice became very quiet.
"We have him."
Claire corrected him.
"We have evidence that needs to be authenticated, but yes, this matters."
They continued.
A later video showed Vivian standing beside Helena near the front gate.
The audio was faint but clear enough.
"If you go to Adrian, he will have you removed."
Helena on the screen looked frightened.
"I just want to speak to my husband."
"He does not want to speak to you."
Adrian closed his eyes.
Present-day Helena squeezed his hand.
"Keep watching."
The next video surprised everyone.
Owen sat alone in the records room speaking directly to the camera.
He looked exhausted.
"My name is Owen Price."
"If this file is being watched, something has gone wrong."
"Vivian Hart paid me to create documents and message records."
"I told myself it was a private divorce dispute."
"Then I realized Helena Cole did not know the documents were false."
The room went silent.
Owen explained that he had started copying files because Vivian was preparing to blame him if the scheme collapsed.
He named accountants, shell companies, and two mansion employees who had been instructed to restrict Helena's access to transportation.
Then he said something that changed the direction of the case.
"Vivian did not begin this because she hated Helena."
Adrian leaned toward the screen.
"She began it because Helena found the Northbridge ledger."
The recording ended.
Helena looked confused.
"I don't know what that is."
Adrian did.
Northbridge was the name of a charitable foundation controlled jointly by his late father and Vivian's family.
Adrian had rarely examined its old accounts because it had been inactive for years.
Claire opened the spreadsheet folder.
There it was.
NORTHBRIDGE_LEDGER.xlsx.
The file listed transfers totaling millions of dollars.
Some payments went back more than a decade.
The final column contained initials.
V.H. appeared repeatedly.
So did A.C.
Adrian stared at his own initials.
Helena looked at him slowly.
"Adrian, what is this?"
May you like
He had no answer.
Because if the ledger was genuine, someone had been moving money under his name long before Helena disappeared.
