Chapter 5
I put Miranda on speaker.
Laura immediately held up one finger, warning everyone to stay quiet.
“Miranda,” I said, “I need you to explain exactly what Daniel told you.”
She cried harder.
“I didn’t know everything.”
“That isn’t what I asked.”
“I know.”
Her voice shook.
“I’m sorry.”
My anger surged.
“You slept with my husband for two years.”
Henry looked away.
Laura watched me carefully.
“You met my daughter.”
“I know.”
“You let Daniel tell her you might become her new mother.”
“I told him not to say that.”
“But you stayed.”
Silence.
I closed my eyes.
This wasn’t helping.
I wanted to hate her.
Maybe I did.
But fear in her voice sounded real.
“Start at the beginning.”
She inhaled shakily.
“I met Daniel when I worked in accounting at Blackwood Development.”
“When?”
“Three years ago.”
“He said two.”
“He lied.”
Of course he did.
“When did the affair start?”
“About two and a half years ago.”
My stomach turned.
“He told me you two were basically separated.”
“We were sleeping in the same bed.”
“I know that now.”
“How?”
“Because I saw your family Christmas photos online.”
I laughed bitterly.
“And that didn’t stop you?”
“No.”
At least she didn’t lie.
“I’m not going to pretend I’m a good person in this, Rachel.”
“Good.”
“But Daniel is dangerous.”
Laura leaned closer.
“Miranda, what do you mean by dangerous?”
Miranda went quiet.
“Who is that?”
“My attorney.”
“That trust lawyer?”
Laura’s eyebrows rose.
“You know about me?”
“Daniel hates you.”
Laura almost smiled.
“Useful information.”
Miranda continued.
“He said you were trying to steal his company.”
“I’m trying to stop him from stealing from a trust.”
Another silence.
Then Miranda whispered, “Oh God.”
“What?”
“I think I helped him.”
Martin leaned forward.
“How?”
“Who’s that?”
“Forensic accountant,” Laura said.
Miranda made a choking sound.
“I need a lawyer.”
“You probably do,” Laura replied. “But if Rachel and Sophie are in immediate danger, tell us why.”
Miranda inhaled.
“Daniel told me Rachel had severe depression.”
“I don’t.”
“I know.”
“He said she had breakdowns. That she screamed at Sophie. That she threatened to disappear.”
“None of that happened.”
“I know now.”
“How?”
“Because six months ago he asked me to sign something.”
My eyes moved to the custody agreement.
“You witnessed my signature.”
“I thought it was yours.”
“Were you there when I signed?”
“No.”
“Then why did you witness it?”
She started crying again.
“Because Daniel said you had signed electronically and the lawyer needed an in-person witness.”
Laura shook her head.
“That makes no legal sense.”
“I know that now!”
Laura’s tone softened.
“Okay.”
Miranda continued.
“He told me the document was only for temporary custody if you entered treatment voluntarily.”
My throat tightened.
“Treatment.”
“Yes.”
“Did he mention Northstar?”
Silence.
Then:
“How do you know that name?”
Henry swore.
Martin sat straighter.
“Miranda.”
“Yes.”
“Answer her.”
“Yes,” she whispered. “Daniel hired them.”
“For me?”
“I think so.”
“When?”
“Months ago.”
I felt the room tilting again.
“What was the plan?”
“He never explained everything at once.”
“Explain what you know.”
“He wanted a doctor to recommend inpatient treatment.”
“Dr. Reeves?”
“Yes.”
My hands went numb.
Laura wrote the name on a notepad.
Miranda kept talking.
“Daniel said once you were admitted, he’d file for emergency temporary custody.”
I looked at Sophie’s drawings taped to the refrigerator.
A purple house.
Three stick figures.
Mommy.
Daddy.
Sophie.
“How long was I supposed to be gone?”
Miranda didn’t answer.
“How long?”
“He said thirty days at first.”
“At first?”
“He said if doctors thought you needed longer, that would make his custody case stronger.”
Henry covered his mouth.
Laura’s voice was cold.
“Did Daniel ever discuss fabricating symptoms?”
“I don’t know.”
“Did he discuss medication?”
The phone went silent.
My pulse exploded.
“Miranda.”
“I told him not to.”
Every person in the room went still.
“What medication?”
“I don’t know the name.”
My voice broke.
“What did he do?”
“He asked me if certain prescriptions could make someone confused.”
I grabbed the counter.
“Why?”
“He said it was research.”
“Research for what?”
“I don’t know.”
“Did you believe him?”
“No.”
“When was this?”
“Four months ago.”
I thought of the unlabeled pills.
Daniel had called them supplements.
My knees weakened.
“Did he give you anything?”
Miranda asked.
I told her about the bottle.
She started sobbing.
“Oh God.”
Laura took over.
“Miranda, where are you right now?”
“At my apartment.”
“Is Daniel there?”
“No.”
“Have you seen him today?”
“No.”
“Do not leave.”
Miranda laughed through tears.
“You think I’m staying here?”
“We may need your testimony.”
“I’m scared.”
“Of Daniel?”
“Yes.”
That answer came instantly.
Laura’s eyes narrowed.
“Has he ever hurt you?”
A long pause.
“Miranda?”
“Yes.”
I looked at the phone.
“When?”
“He grabbed me once.”
“That’s not all, is it?”
She cried quietly.
“He shoved me into a wall.”
My anger became complicated.
I still hated what she had done.
But I knew that fear.
“Why did you stay?”
The second I asked, I almost regretted it.
It sounded too much like every question women hear after being hurt.
Miranda answered anyway.
“Because every time I tried to leave, he reminded me what I had signed.”
The custody agreement.
“He blackmailed you?”
“Yes.”
“With what?”
“He said I had participated in fraud.”
Laura whispered, “That’s why she called.”
Miranda heard.
“Yes.”
“Why today?”
“Because Daniel came by last night.”
“What happened?”
“He was furious.”
“About his mother?”
“About Henry.”
I looked at Henry.
Miranda continued.
“He said his father had gone insane and was going to hand everything to Rachel.”
Henry’s face tightened.
“What else?”
“He told me to pack for Mexico.”
“And you refused?”
“Yes.”
“What did he say?”
“That I didn’t understand.”
“Understand what?”
“That once he got Sophie, he could negotiate.”
My blood turned cold.
“Negotiate what?”
“The trust.”
Laura stood up.
“Explain.”
Miranda’s voice dropped.
“Daniel said Sophie was the pressure point.”
I couldn’t breathe.
“What does that mean?”
“He said Rachel would sign anything if Sophie was involved.”
Henry exploded.
“That bastard.”
I gripped the table so hard my fingers hurt.
Laura stayed calm.
“Did he threaten to abduct Sophie?”
“He never used that word.”
“What did he say?”
“He said he needed Sophie away from Rachel long enough to make Rachel cooperate.”
My entire body began shaking.
I ran upstairs.
“Rachel!” Henry called.
I burst into Sophie’s room.
Empty.
Of course it was.
Sophie was with a neighbor Laura trusted while we searched the house.
I knew that.
But suddenly I needed to see her.
I grabbed my phone.
The neighbor answered.
“Hi, Rachel.”
“Is Sophie there?”
“Yes.”
“Put her on.”
A few seconds later:
“Mommy?”
My knees buckled with relief.
“Hi, baby.”
“We’re making pancakes.”
“Good.”
“Are you coming?”
“Yes.”
“When?”
“Soon.”
I stared at her little pink bed.
“Don’t leave Mrs. Parker’s house.”
“Okay.”
“Not with anyone.”
“Okay.”
“Not Daddy. Not Grandma. Nobody unless I say so.”
She went quiet.
“Is Daddy bad?”
I closed my eyes.
How do you answer that?
“No, sweetheart. Daddy is making some bad choices. Right now I need you to listen to me.”
“Okay.”
“I love you.”
“Love you too.”
When I returned downstairs, Miranda was still on the phone.
Laura had convinced her to meet somewhere public.
Not the house.
Not her apartment.
A law office.
Martin was contacting the trust’s board.
Henry was pacing.
I felt strangely calm.
“What do we do now?”
Laura looked at me.
“We move fast.”
“Custody?”
“First.”
“Can Daniel take her legally?”
“He’s her father. Without a court order restricting him, things can become complicated.”
“Then get one.”
“We need a family-law attorney.”
“Get one.”
“I already called.”
That surprised me.
“Who?”
“Karen Holt.”
Henry nodded.
“I know the name.”
“Is she good?” I asked.
Laura gave me a serious look.
“She’s expensive.”
“I didn’t ask if she was cheap.”
A tiny smile appeared.
“She’s very good.”
“Then call her again.”
Laura did.
Karen Holt arrived two hours later.
She was around fifty, with dark hair and the kind of eyes that seemed to notice every weakness in a room.
She listened to everything.
The assault.
The forged custody agreement.
The therapist.
Northstar.
Miranda.
Daniel’s comments to Sophie.
When I finished, Karen folded her hands.
“We file for an emergency protective order and temporary custody today.”
“Today?”
“Yes.”
“Can we?”
“We can ask.”
“What if a judge says no?”
“Then we keep asking with better evidence.”
I liked her instantly.
She pointed at me.
“From now on, communicate with Daniel in writing whenever possible.”
“Okay.”
“Do not threaten him.”
“I won’t.”
“Do not insult him.”
“I’ll try.”
“No. You’ll succeed.”
I almost smiled.
“Fine.”
“Do not block him unless he becomes threatening. We want records.”
My phone buzzed.
Daniel.
Everyone looked at the screen.
A text.
WHERE IS SOPHIE?
Karen said, “Answer.”
“What do I say?”
“The truth, but not the location.”
I typed:
She is safe with me.
Daniel responded immediately.
YOU CANNOT KEEP MY DAUGHTER FROM ME.
Karen nodded.
“Good.”
“Good?”
“He’s establishing his position.”
Another message.
BRING HER HOME NOW OR I’M CALLING THE POLICE.
Karen said, “Reply: Given today’s events, Sophie will remain with me pending legal guidance.”
I did.
His reply came seconds later.
MY MOTHER WAS ATTACKED AND ARRESTED BECAUSE OF YOU. YOU ARE NOT STABLE ENOUGH TO MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT SOPHIE.
The room went silent.
Karen’s eyes sharpened.
“There.”
“What?”
“The narrative.”
Emotional instability.
Exactly what Miranda described.
Daniel was building it in writing.
Karen said, “Do not argue.”
Another text.
I HAVE PEOPLE WHO CAN PROVE YOU’RE UNSTABLE.
My skin crawled.
Karen smiled without humor.
“Thank you, Daniel.”
Then my phone rang.
Dr. Samuel Reeves.
The therapist.
Karen held up her hand.
“Don’t answer.”
It stopped.
A voicemail appeared.
I played it on speaker.
“Rachel, this is Dr. Reeves. Daniel contacted me and expressed serious concern about your emotional state after an incident today. Given your history of anxiety and what he described as escalating behavior, I believe it would be wise for us to speak as soon as possible. Please call me.”
Nobody spoke.
Karen slowly turned toward Laura.
“You said there was a behavioral placement company?”
Laura nodded.
“Paid two hundred thousand dollars.”
Karen looked at me.
“This isn’t just a divorce plan.”
“What is it?”
“It looks coordinated.”
My phone buzzed again.
Not Daniel.
Mrs. Parker.
My neighbor.
I answered immediately.
“Rachel?”
Her voice sounded frightened.
“What happened?”
“Someone just came to my door.”
My heart stopped.
“Who?”
“A man I don’t know.”
“What did he want?”
“He said he was from a child welfare service and needed to see Sophie.”
Karen stood.
“Did you let him in?”
“No.”
“Good. Lock every door.”
“He’s still outside.”
I could hear knocking through the phone.
Then a man’s muffled voice.
“Mrs. Parker, we only need to confirm the child is safe.”
Karen grabbed her bag.
“Call 911.”
Mrs. Parker whispered, “Rachel, there’s another car pulling up.”
“What car?”
She moved toward a window.
Then gasped.
“No.”
May you like
“What?”
“It’s Daniel.”
