Chapter 7
Genevieve’s attorneys stopped calling the email genuine.
They changed position.
Audrey had acted independently.
Genevieve supposedly received the screenshots and believed them.
Katherine expected the pivot.
“Then Audrey becomes very important.”
Audrey knew it too.
Within twenty-four hours, her lawyer contacted federal investigators and foundation counsel about cooperation.
She still did not receive immunity.
No promises.
Just the opportunity to tell the truth before documents told it without her.
Audrey admitted creating the fake email.
Genevieve dictated the language.
Rowan sat across from her during the recorded civil interview.
“You wrote my wife demanding money she never asked for.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Audrey began crying.
“Genevieve said she needed protection.”
“From Isolde?”
“From the audit.”
There it was.
Not complete.
Enough.
Audrey said Genevieve had known for more than a year that related-party payments could become a serious issue.
Most money was not sitting in Genevieve’s pocket.
Some had paid real vendors.
Some had paid family obligations Genevieve believed the foundation should cover.
But several million dollars could not be defended cleanly.
Genevieve expected Rowan eventually to professionalize the foundation the same way he had professionalized Mercer Atlantic.
Then Isolde started asking questions.
Genevieve panicked.
Katherine asked:
“Why fabricate extortion?”
“To discredit her.”
“Why the baby shower?”
Audrey looked down.
“I don’t know everything.”
“What do you know?”
Genevieve had told Audrey to keep the next morning free for an emergency board session.
She had also instructed her to maintain access to Rowan and Isolde’s townhouse.
“Why?”
Audrey hesitated.
“To replace the blue folder.”
Rowan became motionless.
“With what?”
“A second folder.”
Katherine looked toward Audrey’s attorney.
He nodded for her to continue.
The second folder contained:
The fake Isolde email.
A draft private consulting agreement paying Isolde $1 million.
A printed copy of a fake bank instruction.
And several genuine Halcyon invoices.
The plan was to remove Isolde’s original copies and leave the second folder in the same cabinet.
Rowan stared at Audrey.
“Then what?”
“I was told it needed to be found independently.”
“By who?”
“Auditor.”
“What auditor?”
“Foundation counsel was supposed to request access after the board meeting.”
Katherine leaned forward.
“You were going to plant documents in a pregnant woman’s home, then arrange for lawyers to discover them.”
Audrey whispered:
“Yes.”
Isolde sat beside Rowan.
She did not cry.
That somehow made it worse.
“What if I had been home?”
Audrey looked at her.
“Genevieve said you wouldn’t be.”
“Why?”
No answer.
Rowan remembered the threat immediately.
Then don’t leave Isolde alone tonight.
His eyes hardened.
“What did she think would happen to my wife?”
Audrey shook her head.
“I swear I wasn’t told anyone would hurt her.”
“Then why wouldn’t she be home?”
“Genevieve expected the hospital.”
Silence.
The shove had nearly sent Isolde down a staircase.
Genevieve apparently expected enough medical chaos to keep Rowan and Isolde away from their house while Audrey altered the evidence.
Audrey quickly added:
“She never told me she was going to push her.”
Katherine nodded.
Important distinction.
“Did she say she expected Rowan to react physically?”
May you like
Audrey looked away.
That answer would take another layer of evidence.
