Chapter 4 - THE ATTORNEY
His name was Peter Sloan.
Daniel had met him twice at family barbecues.
On Noah’s recording, Peter sounded anything but casual.
“You need consistency,” he told Rachel. “If the children say different things, nobody will take the petition seriously.”
Daniel paused the recorder.
“What petition?”
Noah shrugged.
“I heard Aunt Rachel say something about emergency custody.”
He called his own attorney, Dana Morales, and told her everything in less than three minutes.
“Do not confront Sloan,” Dana said. “Do not delete anything. Photograph every page of that notebook. Save the audio in three places. And Daniel?”
“Yes?”
“Do not let Rachel back into the house.”
“She’s not coming back.”
“I mean legally. Change the codes. Call the school. Call the pediatrician. Remove her from every pickup list tonight.”
Daniel looked at Lily curled against his side.
“What am I missing?”
Dana was silent for a beat.
“You said Emily left a trust for the children.”
“Yes.”
“Who controls it if something happens to you?”
Daniel’s stomach tightened.
“My sister is alternate guardian.”
“Financial trustee too?”
“No. My brother-in-law was supposed to be, but he died last year. I never updated it.”
“So who is next?”
Daniel knew before he answered.
“Rachel.”
Dana exhaled.
“How much is in the trust?”
“About two-point-three million, mostly life insurance and Emily’s inheritance.”
Dana said, “Find the trust documents.”
Daniel carried Lily downstairs with Noah close beside him.
In the home office, he unlocked the fireproof cabinet.
The trust binder was there.
So were tax files, passports, and Emily’s will.
But the amendment naming Rachel as alternate guardian was missing.
In its place sat a photocopy Daniel had never seen.
At the top was a court case number.
Under his name were four words:
May you like
PETITION FOR TEMPORARY GUARDIANSHIP.
And in the corner was tomorrow’s date.
