Chapter 5: My Mother-in-Law Was the Mastermind
At eight the next morning, I sat across from attorney Rebecca Collins in her downtown Chicago office.
She was in her early forties, with short brown hair, a navy suit, and the kind of expression that made people think twice before lying.
Zoe sat beside me.
Lily was with Zoe's neighbor, who had offered to watch her for an hour.
I placed my laptop on Rebecca's desk.
"I need you to see everything.""
For the next forty minutes, we reviewed the recordings, the custody petition, the bank transactions, and Patricia's involvement in Megan's company.
Rebecca barely spoke.
She took notes.
She replayed certain sections.
She enlarged the signatures.
Finally, she leaned back.
"Chloe, I want to be very clear about something. You have evidence that could be extremely important, but we need to preserve it properly. Do not edit the original recordings, do not confront these people alone, and do not post anything online.""
"I don't care about posting anything. I want my daughter safe.""
"Good. That's our priority.""
She opened the custody petition.
"Was this filed with the court?""
"I don't know.""
Rebecca typed the case number into a legal database.
After a moment, she frowned.
"It was submitted yesterday afternoon.""
My heart sank.
"Yesterday?""
"Yes. Your husband is requesting temporary sole custody.""
She continued reading.
Then she stopped.
"There's something else.""
"What?""
"He's alleging that you have a history of physically assaulting family members.""
I felt my face grow hot.
"Because I slapped Megan after she slapped my child?""
"Possibly. But he is also referencing a previous incident.""
"What previous incident?""
Rebecca turned her monitor toward me.
There was a statement attached to the petition.
It claimed that I had thrown a glass at Patricia during a family gathering the previous Christmas.
I stared at it.
"That never happened.""
"Do you have witnesses?""
"Zoe wasn't there. Mark was. Megan was. Patricia was.""
Rebecca nodded slowly.
"Unfortunately, the fact that the statement is disputed doesn't automatically remove it from consideration. We need evidence that contradicts it.""
I remembered that Christmas.
Patricia had criticized my cooking in front of everyone. I had walked into the kitchen to avoid an argument.
No glass.
No shouting.
Nothing.
"They're inventing things.""
"Then we need to establish a pattern of fabrication.""
Rebecca opened the recordings again.
"Your sister's security footage is valuable. The audio recording of your husband's phone call may also be important, subject to applicable recording laws and how it was obtained. I'll review that separately.""
She made several calls while Zoe and I waited.
Then she looked at us.
"I want to understand the financial arrangement. Why was Patricia listed as an owner of Megan's company?""
"I don't know.""
Rebecca searched the company records.
"According to this filing, Patricia contributed the initial capital.""
"How much?""
"Twenty-five thousand dollars.""
I nearly stood up.
"That's almost the amount missing from Lily's account.""
Rebecca looked at the bank statements.
"The timing is certainly worth investigating.""
She printed the registration documents.
Then she pointed to a mailing address.
It was Patricia's house.
My mother-in-law had helped create a company with the exact amount of money that had disappeared from my daughter's savings.
And my husband had transferred the funds.
I felt nauseated.
Rebecca picked up her phone.
"There's one more thing I recommend. We should request preservation of the relevant financial records before anyone attempts to destroy them.""
I nodded.
"Do whatever you need to do.""
As we prepared to leave, my phone rang.
It was Mark.
I put it on speaker.
"Hello?""
"Where is Lily?""
"She's safe.""
"I want to speak to my daughter.""
"Arrange it through the attorney.""
He laughed.
"You're already playing legal games?""
"You're the one who filed a custody petition.""
"Because you kidnapped my child.""
Rebecca motioned for me to stay calm.
I took a breath.
"Mark, why is your mother's name on Megan's company?""
Silence.
Then he said, "What?""
"MB Lifestyle Consulting. Patricia invested twenty-five thousand dollars.""
"That's none of your business.""
"Where did that money come from?""
"Chloe, don't.""
"Did you give them Lily's savings?""
He suddenly raised his voice.
"You're going to destroy this family over money!""
Rebecca wrote something on a notepad and slid it toward me.
Ask about the company account.
I swallowed.
"Then tell me why my daughter's money went into a company owned by your mother and sister.""
Mark hung up.
I stared at the screen.
Rebecca nodded.
"That reaction tells me we should keep investigating.""
Zoe's phone vibrated.
She checked it, then looked at me.
"It's Patricia.""
"What does she want?""
Zoe turned the screen toward me.
It was a text message.
*PATRICIA: Chloe, I think we need to speak privately. I have information about Megan that Mark doesn't know I have.*
I frowned.
"Is she trying to manipulate me?""
"Probably," Zoe replied.
Rebecca considered the message.
"Don't meet her alone. If she has relevant information, she can provide it through counsel.""
But before I could respond, Patricia sent another message.
*PATRICIA: I know what Megan did to Lily before Thanksgiving. And I know what happened to the money.*
I stared at the words.
Then a third message arrived.
*PATRICIA: Your husband wasn't the one who suggested the custody arrangement. I was.*
My hands went cold.
Rebecca read the message.
"Interesting.""
I looked at Zoe.
"She wants to meet.""
Rebecca shook her head.
"Not without safeguards.""
I typed a reply.
If you have information, send it to my attorney.
Patricia responded almost immediately.
**PATRICIA: I can't put this in writing. Megan has access to my phone and email. Meet me tomorrow at 10 a.m.
at the coffee shop on Oak Street. Come alone.**
I showed Rebecca.
She stared at the message for several seconds.
"Absolutely not.""
"Then what do we do?""
"We arrange a controlled meeting, with proper legal guidance. If she truly has evidence, she can provide it safely.""
I nodded.
But as we left the office, I received another message.
This one contained a photograph.
It showed Lily sitting on Patricia's living room sofa, holding a stuffed rabbit.
The picture had been taken during her last visit.
Written beneath it were seven words.
*Your daughter knows what her father really did.*
I stopped walking.
May you like
Because suddenly, I wondered whether the recordings had captured everything.
Or whether Lily had witnessed something even worse.
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