Another document.
Proceeds transferred.
Then invested.
Then transferred again.
Shell companies.
Brokerage accounts.
Real estate.
Private equity.
A trail spreading outward from the restaurant accident like cracks through ice.
Grace called a forensic accountant.
Daniel Cho.
He spoke for almost an hour.
Numbers replaced memories.
$780,000 became $1.3 million.
$1.3 million became $2.6 million.
More transfers.
More properties.
More hidden accounts.
By the time Victor filed for divorce, Daniel estimated the separate network contained $11.4 million in assets.
None had appeared on Victor’s sworn marital disclosure.
Judge Monroe removed her glasses.
“Mr. Pike.”
Gerald stood slowly.
“Yes, Your Honor.”
“Did your client disclose these entities to you?”
Gerald looked at Victor.
Long enough for the answer to become obvious.
“No.”
Victor whispered, “They’re business assets.”
Daniel Cho shook his head.
“They are beneficially owned by Mr. Hale personally.”
Victor snapped, “You don’t know how restaurant groups work.”
Daniel looked almost bored.
“I audit restaurant groups for a living.”
