Chapter 15 - GRANDMA’S PRICE
At the station, she asked to speak with him.
Carol sat behind the glass.
“I never wanted Lily hurt.”
Daniel’s voice was flat. “You took money.”
“I took money from Grant.”
“Same machine.”
She started crying. “Melissa was drowning in debt. She had loans, gambling losses, credit cards. She said the account was helping families and sponsors paid for content. I believed—”
“Stop saying you believed.”
Carol flinched.
“You saw Lily tired. You saw her afraid. You saw a hidden phone in your sewing cabinet. And every time you had a chance to ask one more question, you decided not to.”
Carol covered her face.
Daniel leaned toward the glass. “Why?”
She lowered her hands.
“Because the money fixed things.”
Carol gave police access to a safe-deposit box Grant had opened in her name.
Inside were original contracts proving Evan owned forty percent of Vance Family Media through a hidden partnership.
There was also a flash drive containing audio recordings Grant had secretly made as insurance.
One recording captured Evan speaking to Dr. Kline.
“She doesn’t need to be sick,” Evan said. “She only needs to look sick long enough for people to donate.”
Another recording was worse.
Evan: “Friday ends it.”
Grant: “Ends what?”
Evan: “Daniel’s control. Melissa’s panic. All of it.”
Grant: “You mean the board vote?”
Evan laughed.
“No. I mean Daniel.”
The room went silent.
Maya looked at Daniel.
Ramirez immediately issued an updated warrant.
Attempted murder.
Conspiracy.
Fraud.
Child endangerment.
But Evan had vanished.
Then Omar called.
“I found him.”
“Where?” Daniel asked.
“Not exactly him. His access.”
Omar’s voice tightened.
May you like
“Evan just logged into the Hart Systems disaster-recovery center.”
The facility held backup servers for every company record they had.
