Web of Lies by Sally Rigby (classic novels for teens txt) 📗

At the time of Donald’s death, he had forty-nine active clients in the Ponzi scheme. Each client’s individual file had a note stating how often dividends were paid.

Seb was able to ascertain those clients whose money had been invested legitimately and those whose funds weren’t. The turning point was 2010. From that date onwards, Donald falsified documents to his clients when they received their interest using information he received for his legitimate clients to create them. That way, anyone who tracked their investment independently would be getting accurate information. How did he account for this on his tax returns, though? A question for another time.

Seb moved from the client files into Donald’s main business bank account where all new investors’ monies were placed. There were no outgoing payments made to any external investments, contrary to what the agreements stated. All interest payments to his clients were made via direct payment. The only withdrawals were made into Donald’s personal bank account and from there he paid for the family housekeeping and living expenses. A large monthly amount went into Sarah’s own account, more than his salary as a detective inspector with the Met.

It was quite a juggling act and, for many years, had worked very well. Donald had managed the money expertly. From what Sebastian could see, however, towards the end of the previous year, Donald’s outgoings began to exceed the amount of money he had coming in, as he was taking on fewer new clients. He missed dividend payments, but he did it in such a way as to not alert people. When a payment was missed, Donald emailed the client and explained there were issues with the bank due to the hacking of accounts and they would be paid as soon as possible, at the latest by the time the next payment was due. He made sure not to miss more than one dividend per client until it got to the time when he died. By that time, very few people were receiving their money.

He leant back in the chair and stretched out his arms. The chair wasn’t comfortable for someone of his size. He glanced at the bank account again, ensuring he’d checked every item. At the start of this year, there was a large investment of two hundred thousand pounds from Donald’s brother Edgar. Sebastian had met him, but he wasn’t at the funeral yesterday. This wasn’t the first time Edgar had invested. His initial investment had been eleven years prior, and he’d signed a ten-year agreement. Yet he put in more money.

Had he done it to help him out?

Was he aware of the fraud Donald was engaging in? And if he was, how deep did his involvement go?

Chapter 6

5 May

Sarah glanced up at the kitchen clock from where she was standing at the island chopping lettuce. Seb had been in the study for two hours. He was her last hope. She’d thought about employing a proper private detective, but changed her mind. She didn’t want someone she didn’t know or trust going through everything.

It had to be Seb or no one.

Footsteps echoed down the hall, and the door opened.

‘Sorry, Sarah, I don’t know where the time went.’

‘I was about to come and fetch you for lunch. I thought we’d have a salad with the leftovers from yesterday. There’s cold chicken and cold beef, if you’re okay with that?’

‘Sounds wonderful, I’m starving. What can I do to help?’

‘Nothing, it’s almost ready. We’ll eat in here as the boys haven’t surfaced yet and it’s only the two of us. There’s no need to stand on ceremony.’

He washed his hands and headed over to the Welsh dresser. ‘Are these okay?’ He held out two white china plates.

‘Yes, they’re fine.’ She stared at him. His eyes gave nothing away. ‘Have you found anything yet?’

He took the plates over to the island, before turning to face her.

‘I have some questions regarding the business which need answering.’

She placed the knife on the work surface and stepped towards him, enveloping him in a huge hug.

‘I’m so relieved that you agreed to investigate Donald’s death. Thank you.’

Whatever he found she’d be prepared to accept because then, at least, she’d know Donald’s death had been properly investigated.

He stepped away from her, leaning against the worktop. ‘Sarah, you must remember, it’s highly unlikely that my investigation is going to make any difference to the official outcome. The suicide verdict will most likely stand, unless we have hard evidence to persuade the police and the coroner to change their decisions.’

She nodded. ‘I understand. If I’m wrong, then so be it. I just want somebody to look into it and to actually listen to me. You’re the first person who has and I can’t begin to tell you how good it feels to be heard. You’ll have to advise me how much to pay you, as I’ve never done anything like this before. What’s the going rate for private investigators these days?’

She’d looked on the internet but couldn’t find anything. Then again, she wasn’t sure if she’d looked in the right places. Donald used to call her a technophobe, and he was right … up to a point. She’d never been interested. She used her phone and would read on her tablet, but other than that she hardly went online.

‘First of all, I’m not a PI, nor have I any intention of becoming one. Second, I’m not prepared to take any money from you. I have some free time since leaving the force and this will keep me occupied.’

‘Are you sure? I do have some money set aside, as I mentioned to you. It’s not much but—’

‘And you need it to take care of yourself and the boys. I want no more said about it. This is non-negotiable.’ He wagged his finger in her direction.

Her lips turned up into a relieved smile. ‘In that case you should come and stay here with me at the house. There’s plenty of space and it