Chapter 6 - THE GIRL WHO FILMED IT
I called the number. A woman answered on the third ring, breathing so hard I could hear traffic behind her.
"My name's Nina Alvarez," she said. "I watched the twins for two afternoons when your mom got sick. Ryan told me never to mention it."
"Did you record that video?"
"Yes. I'm sorry I didn't send it sooner."
"Why now?"
"Because your mother told me she thought she'd die in that house."
Nina explained that Vivian had fired her for bringing Margaret a glass of water without asking. She had filmed the basement scene on her phone after hearing shouting. Ryan had followed her outside and offered two hundred dollars to delete it.
"I said no. Then he told me he knew where I lived."
"Keep the original file," I said. "Don't forward it around. My attorney will contact you, and you can decide how to speak with investigators."
"There's more," Nina whispered. "On Tuesday, Vivian made your mom sign something."
"What kind of thing?"
"A paper with a notary stamp. Your mom was crying."
I looked through the sunroom window. Mom had fallen asleep in the chair, her swollen hands open on her lap.
"Did you see the heading?"
"Only two words. Power of attorney."
My blood turned cold. Mom owned a small lake cabin, bought with my father's life insurance years ago. Vivian had asked about it at Christmas and called it wasted money.
I called June again and asked her to contact the county recording office and help Mom review her legal documents. Mom woke when she heard me mention the cabin.
"They said they needed my signature for medical permission," she whispered.
"Who said that?"
May you like
"Ryan. He covered the top of the page with his hand."
Just then an alert appeared on my phone: a document had been submitted that morning concerning Margaret Ellis's property.
