to make minor adjustments to the agreement, which he was quick to sign. Some of the changes stated if she decided to end the marriage, he would receive a substantial settlement.”

“What if he wanted out?” Johanna asked.

“He'd get nothing. Also, another clause states that in the event of any infidelity on his part, she can end the marriage and he is left out in the cold. Kendall had that one added herself.”

“Did he object?” Johanna asked.

“How could he? It would throw suspicion on him.”

“Well, he's obviously trying to get her to file for divorce,” Frankie said. “It still doesn't explain why she was dressed like she's penniless though.”

He exhaled loudly as he removed his glasses and set them on top of his desk. “There's more going on; something much bigger than a man cheating on his wife and freezing her accounts.”

“And you obviously don't want him to find out that Kendall came to you for help. That way he won't suspect he's being watched.” Frankie's eyes narrowed. “Makes sense.”

“No. I want him to know that Kendall came to me, but I need to convince him that the firm refused to listen to her quite unfounded allegations.”

“I'm confused. Won't that only make him more suspicious? Why would you turn her away when your firm has had the Bronson account for decades?” Johanna asked.

“We need to convince Thatcher that we believe Kendall is losing control of her mental faculties and something needs to be done since her holdings need to be protected.”

“How will he know she came to you in the first place?” Frankie asked.

“We'd be the first place she'd go. He knows that. But I'm going to be placing a call to him to let him know to bring this to a head.”

“Did he come to you for help in having Kendall proved incompetent to handle her accounts?” Johanna studied the attorney as she tried to make sense out of this case. So far, nothing was adding up. “How was he able to get control of her accounts?”

“No, he sought the services of a firm in Philadelphia.”

“And you didn't find that odd?” Frankie's eyebrows shot up.

Alec ran a hand over his jaw. “No, because she'd signed power of attorney papers along with the pre-nup stating that if she was ever unable to competently handle her affairs, Thatcher would be given immediate control. He could do whatever he pleased.”

“He could have pulled the Bronson accounts from your firm, then. Correct?” Johanna asked.

“No. Kendall's father had put that safeguard in place many years ago. Only in the event of the demise of my firm could the accounts be transferred. Kendall herself can't even change firms unless it was proven we'd done something disreputable.” His eyes narrowed. “Thatcher Longman can never have the accounts transferred, but he can seek the assistance of another firm for anything pertaining to the accounts. That ties our hands.”

“Now I'm totally confused. He can't get control of the accounts, but he can control how they're handled?” Johanna pursed her lips. “It doesn't make sense.”

Alec's jaw tightened. “As I've said, it's complicated.”

“Didn't you go to court to try to defend Kendall when he began taking control? I can't believe you would allow her to suffer like that, Alec,” Johanna said heatedly. “That doesn't sound like you.”

Frankie was surprised at Johanna's outburst. It proved how Kendall's situation had affected her. “I'm sure Alec will explain if you give him a chance, Johanna.”

Alec held up a hand palm out. “It's all right, Johanna. Actually, I'm pleased that Kendall made such an impression on you. That's why I brought you two in on this.” He smiled warmly as he looked at Johanna. “Our hands were tied. She'd been institutionalized. The courts cited her own conditions of power of attorney and ruled against her. The good news is that the accounts can't be transferred to another firm so we can still keep an eye on them for anything we deem suspicious.”

“I'm sorry for snapping at you. You're right. Kendall has made quite an impression on me. All I know is that I want to help her no matter what it takes,” Johanna said.

“Good. I knew you would once you met her.”

“Wasn't her institutionalization after the deaths of her fiancée and father and before she met Thatcher?” Johanna asked. “She'd suffered two horrible tragedies. Certainly Thatcher couldn't use that against her when he wasn't even in the picture yet.”

“No, he wouldn't have been able to, but unfortunately he had her institutionalized several months ago. This time her hospitalization had been kept away from the media. He went to great lengths to keep the press away. I wasn't even aware of it until Thatcher invoked the power of attorney.” He sighed heavily. “Kendall is a very private person. She has a few close friends, but she was too ashamed to confide in them about how she'd been suffering at her husband's hands. After all, Thatcher was a doting husband in their social circles and she was terrified that they wouldn't believe her. She had no one she felt she could turn to, so she suffered alone.”

Frankie sat back listening. Everything she and Johanna had discussed, Alec was confirming. What a bastard Thatcher Longman was proving to be. She couldn't begin to imagine the suffering the woman had endured from the man who had promised a lifetime of happiness. She looked at Alec, waiting for him to continue.

“It wasn't until she was released from the hospital that she finally told me how she'd been suffering at his hands,” Alec said. “For months, prior to being hospitalized, he'd been verbally and mentally abusing her, doing everything in his power to break her. He'd say despicable things to her and chip away at her self-esteem. One night she'd had a little too much to drink and he started in again. She said he kept badgering her repeatedly about how soon, very soon, she'd be living in the gutter and everything she had would be his. She lost control and

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