Chapter 10: The Company Built on My Daughter's Inheritance

For several seconds, I couldn't take my eyes off the bank transfer.

My mother's name.

Dr. Reed's name.

And a company I had never heard of.

Price Family Holdings LLC.

“That's impossible,” I whispered.

Officer Brooks placed another document beside the first.

“Your company accountant confirmed that Ethan Price established this entity approximately four months ago.””

“Why would my mother be involved?””

“We're investigating that.””

I pointed at the transfer.

“How much money?””

“Forty-seven thousand dollars.””

My stomach tightened.

“That money came from Lily's trust?””

“That's what the preliminary financial records suggest.””

Danielle covered her mouth.

“Forty-seven thousand dollars? They stole money from our daughter?””

Officer Brooks nodded.

“The transfer was authorized using documents bearing your signature. We're examining whether those documents were altered or obtained through deception.””

I looked at the detective.

“Ethan handles my company's finances. He has access to everything.””

“Then we need you to help us understand how he could have accessed the trust.””

I remembered the late-night meeting three weeks earlier.

Ethan had arrived at my office carrying a black leather folder.

He'd placed several documents in front of me.

“Marcus, I need your signature on these before the quarterly review,” he'd said.

I remembered barely glancing at them.

“What's this?””

“Routine financial authorizations. Nothing unusual.””

I'd signed.

I hadn't even asked him to explain.

Now I wished I'd never picked up that pen.

“Can I see the original documents?”” I asked.

Officer Brooks nodded.

“We're requesting them from the financial institution.””

Danielle stood.

“I want Patricia arrested.””

“Mrs. Williams, we need sufficient evidence to establish each person's involvement.””

“She stole from our child!””

“I understand.””

“No, you don't!””

Her voice broke.

“She was eight years old. She had a piggy bank full of coins. She saved money from birthdays because she wanted to buy her daddy a Christmas present.””

I lowered my head.

Lily had once given me a small envelope containing eleven dollars and forty cents.

She'd insisted I use it to buy myself something nice.

I'd laughed and kissed her forehead.

Now I couldn't remember where I'd put that envelope.

Officer Brooks gave Danielle a moment.

Then he turned toward me.

“There's something else. We found an email between Patricia and Ethan.””

He placed a printed page on the table.

The email was dated six weeks before Lily's hospitalization.

*Ethan:* The paperwork is ready. I can move the funds once Marcus signs.

*Patricia:* What about Danielle?

*Ethan:* She won't know until the next statement.

*Patricia:* And the child?

*Ethan:* She isn't a legal signatory.

*Patricia:* Good. Then we need to make sure nothing delays the transfer.

I read the exchange again.

Then I noticed the final message.

*Patricia:* If Marcus comes home too early, everything falls apart.

I looked up.

“That's why she wanted me away.””

Officer Brooks nodded.

“It's one possibility.””

Danielle grabbed the paper.

“She knew Lily was sick. She knew Marcus was away. She knew nobody would question her if she controlled the situation.””

I couldn't defend my mother.

I couldn't defend myself either.

Officer Brooks stood.

“We're arranging interviews with Ethan Price and Dr. Reed. In the meantime, I strongly advise you not to contact either man.””

I nodded.

But before we left, my phone rang.

It was my office.

My assistant, Emily, sounded frightened.

“Marcus, there's a problem.””

“What?””

“Ethan just entered your office and removed several boxes.””

“What boxes?””

“Financial records. He said you authorized him to destroy outdated files.””

I stood.

“I never authorized that.””

“Marcus, he's leaving now.””

I turned toward Officer Brooks.

“Ethan is removing documents from my office.””

The detective immediately called his team.

“Where is he going?””

Emily answered before I could ask.

“His car is heading toward the parking garage.””

Officer Brooks grabbed his jacket.

“Don't approach him. Stay where you are.””

I heard a door slam through the phone.

Then Emily whispered something.

“Marcus?””

“What?””

“There's something else.””

“What?””

“I found a photograph on Ethan's desk.””

“What photograph?””

“Lily.””

My chest tightened.

“What about her?””

Emily began crying.

“It was taken inside your house. She was standing in the hallway, holding her school backpack.””

I closed my eyes.

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