Chapter 10 - The Drive That Didn't Leave the House
Owen did not move. He had worked for the Whitmores for nine years. Patricia had hired him, promoted him, and reminded him of both facts whenever she wanted obedience.
“I'm giving it to the police,” Owen said.
“Remember who signs your paycheck,” Patricia replied.
Daniel stepped between them. “I do. And I want every record preserved.”
Ortiz arrived with a warrant before sunset. Her technicians took the drive, the computer, and the access logs. They found the deletion command, but the recovered files were damaged. A full restoration would take time.
At Emily's temporary apartment, Sophie called on a supervised video chat. She wore pink pajamas and held her stuffed rabbit by one ear.
“Emmy, are you still mad at Daddy?”
Emily glanced at the social worker on the call. “I'm upset about what happened. Adults have to make things right.”
“Daddy says sorry.”
“I'm glad he said that.”
Sophie leaned close to the screen. “Grandma says sorry too, but only when people are listening.”
The social worker gently redirected the conversation toward Sophie's bedtime story. Emily read a page from The Velveteen Rabbit, barely able to finish. She missed the little girl; she did not miss living in the mansion.
That night, Tessa showed Emily a copy of Leah's trust. There were two trustees: Daniel and an independent professional, Katherine Bell. Patricia could become temporary guardian only under strict conditions, and even then she could not spend the trust for herself.
“Why would she do all this?” Emily asked.
“Because she has debts,” Tessa said. “The foundation's annual report lists properties that don't exist anymore.”
“Is that enough to charge her?”
“Not by itself.”
An email arrived from Katherine Bell just as they spoke. She had discovered a withdrawal request for six million dollars, labeled EMERGENCY CHILD SAFETY EXPENDITURE.
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The beneficiary wasn't Sophie.
It was a company registered to Patricia's private address.
