Chapter 9 - Why Rachel Wanted the Children
Daniel struggled with the question no one had answered.
Why?
Rachel had no children.
She complained constantly about noise.
She hated school pickup.
She resented Emma’s tantrums.
Why build a custody case?
Susan found part of the answer in Rachel’s divorce records.
Debt.
A lot of it.
Credit cards.
Personal loans.
Back taxes.
Rachel had applied to become a licensed foster caregiver.
Daniel stared.
“She wanted foster payments?”
“Maybe.”
“It may not be.”
Then Susan found a second record.
Laura’s mother had created a trust for Noah and Emma.
Daniel knew about it.
But the trust had a clause allowing distributions for health, housing, and care if a parent became unable to provide.
The temporary guardian could request those distributions.
Daniel felt sick.
“How much?”
“Current value? Around six hundred thousand.”
Silence.
Rachel knew.
Susan held up one finger.
Daniel nodded.
Evidence mattered.
That afternoon, Walter remembered something.
Rachel had asked whether guardians were paid for “extra expenses.”
Then Noah came into the room.
“Dad?”
“Yes?”
“Aunt Rachel talked about our college money.”
Daniel froze.
“When?”
“She said Emma and I were lucky.”
“What else?”
“Did she say how?”
“Work stuff.”
Daniel owned a small construction company.
Rachel knew.
“She said if she was in charge, we’d have a bigger house.”
Susan looked at Daniel.
There it was.
But closer.
Then Daniel’s bank called.
A fraud alert.
Someone had attempted to open a joint custodial account using Noah’s Social Security number.
Rachel Carter.
The application had been submitted three months earlier.
Before any public fight.
Before the staircase.
May you like
Before Daniel knew anything was wrong.
Rachel had been preparing long before she was caught.
