Chapter 18 - THE COST OF SAYING YES
Elisa's interview lasted six hours. Her attorney remained at her side. She admitted approving misleading donor presentations and knew some shipments had never reached the shelters. She said Victor and Pike had controlled the property purchases, but she had ignored warning signs because she wanted the foundation to grow—and wanted her father to approve of her.
“You watched a hungry child beg for cake,” Vega said. “What were you protecting then?”
Elisa stared at the table. “My reputation.”
She also identified a private account used to pay for Carmen's confinement. Records later confirmed a transfer signed through Pike's firm. The information did not absolve Elisa; prosecutors would decide what charges it supported.
Victor dismissed her as disloyal. He hired a publicist and announced he had discovered irregularities within his own organization. The statement called him a whistleblower.
Ruth read it aloud in the shelter kitchen and snorted. “He blows the whistle after he gets caught standing on the tracks.”
The first emergency shipment arrived that morning, ordered directly from a vetted local cooperative with invoices reviewed by Hannah and an independent accountant. Volunteers unpacked apples, bread, diapers, and real milk into the empty refrigerator.
Carmen helped count cartons. Damon carried boxes, doing what Ruth told him rather than issuing speeches. His expensive watch kept sliding down his wrist as he taped labels.
“You're terrible at stacking,” Ruth said.
“I've been told.”
“Good. Then you're learning.”
At noon Detective Vega called. A search of Pike's office had turned up vendor accounts, signed instructions, and evidence tying Victor to the property scheme.
“We're seeking warrants,” she said. “You should hear it from me before it hits the news.”
Damon thanked her. Then another call came from Sofia.
“Daisy asked for you,” she said. “Something happened at school.”
He felt his chest tighten. “Is she safe?”
May you like
“Yes. But a classmate told her she's famous because nobody wanted to feed her.”
