Chapter 2: My Sister's Price
I couldn't breathe.
Rebecca.
My own sister had received $220,000.
The woman who used to sleep beside me during thunderstorms. The woman whose college tuition I'd helped pay. The woman who had hugged me at Christmas and told me how lucky I was to have Daniel.
My father put the call on speaker.
"Patricia, can you confirm the account holder's full name?""
"Yes, sir. Rebecca Mitchell.""
"Was the transfer authorized by Sarah?""
"No. The transaction originated from the account associated with the loan proceeds. We're investigating the source of authorization.""
I stepped closer.
"Patricia, this is Sarah Mitchell. Did my sister sign anything?""
There was a brief silence.
"Mrs. Mitchell, we have a document attached to the transaction. It appears to authorize Rebecca Mitchell to act as your representative.""
"I never authorized that.""
"That's precisely why we're reviewing it.""
Daniel suddenly appeared in the doorway.
"Give me that phone.""
Officer Harris immediately stepped between us.
"Stay where you are, sir.""
Daniel's face flushed.
"You're discussing my private finances!""
My father ended the call after obtaining the investigator's contact information.
Then he turned toward Daniel.
"Why did Rebecca receive $220,000?""
Daniel laughed nervously.
"Maybe you should ask your daughter. She's always had a complicated relationship with her sister.""
I stared at him.
"You told me Rebecca was struggling financially. You said she'd lost her job.""
"She had problems.""
"Did you pay her to help steal my house?""
His eyes narrowed.
"Watch what you're accusing me of.""
That was when I realized something.
Daniel wasn't surprised by the transfer.
He wasn't asking what money we were talking about.
He knew.
He knew exactly where every dollar had gone.
My father noticed it too.
"Officer," Dad said, "I believe we should make sure these documents are included in the investigation.""
Officer Harris nodded.
"That's already being handled.""
Daniel suddenly changed his tone.
"Sarah, honey, listen. We don't need to do this in front of Lily.""
I almost laughed.
He was concerned about appearances now.
"Don't call me honey.""
His mouth tightened.
"We've been married for nine years. You're really going to throw everything away because of one argument?""
I looked at the red mark on my wrist.
Then at Lily's swollen elbow.
"One argument?""
He said nothing.
"You put my head in the sink. You pushed your daughter. You threatened me. And you forged my signature.""
"I didn't forge anything!""
"Then why is my name on a loan application I never signed?""
He looked toward the officers.
No answer came.
My father gently led Lily upstairs to collect her pajamas and a few favorite toys.
While they were gone, Officer Harris asked whether I needed medical attention.
I nodded.
My head hurt, and my wrist was beginning to swell.
As I sat at the kitchen table, I noticed something beneath the paperwork.
A small white envelope.
My name was written across it in Daniel's handwriting.
I opened it carefully.
Inside was a printed email.
The subject line read: PROPERTY TRANSFER—FINAL STEPS.
The email was addressed to Daniel and Rebecca.
I began reading.
"Once Sarah is placed under temporary psychiatric evaluation, the guardianship petition can proceed. The property transfer should be completed before she has access to independent legal advice.""
My hands started shaking.
There were more messages.
One from Rebecca read:
"Are you sure she won't find out about Vanessa?""
Daniel's reply was chilling.
"She'll be too busy trying to prove she's a good mother. By the time she understands what's happening, the house will already be transferred.""
I covered my mouth.
He hadn't simply been preparing to divorce me.
He had been preparing to make me look unstable.
To make people believe I was incapable of raising my own daughter.
To take my mother's house.
And to put Lily under someone else's control.
I heard footsteps behind me.
Officer Harris approached.
"Mrs. Mitchell, is there something else?""
I handed him the email.
He read it carefully.
"Where did you find this?""
"Under the loan documents.""
He photographed every page.
Then he asked, "Have you ever received mental health treatment that might explain the claims in this email?""
"No.""
"Has your husband ever threatened to have you evaluated?""
I remembered Daniel's words from the previous month.
You're becoming paranoid, Sarah.
Maybe you need professional help.
At the time, I'd thought he was simply being cruel during an argument.
Now I understood.
He'd been planting the idea.
"Yes," I whispered.
"He has.""
Officer Harris wrote something in his notebook.
"Do you have any idea who could have prepared these documents?""
I looked toward the staircase.
"Rebecca.""
Just then, my father's phone buzzed.
A text message appeared.
It was from an unknown number.
The message contained one sentence.
STOP INVESTIGATING, ROBERT. YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHO YOU'RE DEALING WITH.
My father read it twice.
Then he looked at me.
"Sarah, someone knows we're here.""
Before I could respond, my phone rang.
Rebecca's name appeared on the screen.
I stared at it.
My father shook his head slightly, silently reminding me that the police were present.
I answered.
"Hello?""
"Sarah!"" Rebecca sounded breathless.
"Where are you?""
"At home.""
"Is Daniel there?""
I looked across the room.
He was watching me.
"Why?""
"Because I need to talk to you. Something terrible has happened.""
I gripped the phone.
"What have you done, Rebecca?""
She went silent.
Then she whispered:
"Sarah, you need to listen. Daniel told me you were going to be declared mentally unstable. He said the money was compensation for helping him protect Lily.""
My stomach twisted.
"Protect her from what?""
Rebecca began crying.
"From you.""
I closed my eyes.
Then she said the words I would never forget.
"But Sarah, I didn't know he was planning to hurt you. And I swear I didn't know what he had done to Lily's birth certificate.""
I froze.
"What birth certificate?""
Rebecca stopped crying.
And in the background, I heard a man's voice.
"Rebecca, hang up. Right now.""
May you like
It was Daniel.
But Daniel was standing ten feet away from me.
