Chapter 19 - The Last Inspection
I called Patricia before I left my apartment.
She already knew.
“The court authorized a limited inspection because Frank’s defense is claiming the attic lockbox was planted after the police report.”
I laughed in disbelief.
“He broke my camera and climbed into my attic.”
“I know.”
“So now they inspect my house?”
“Once. With everyone documented.”
I hated it.
But this time the intrusion was lawful, scheduled, and supervised.
That difference mattered.
I met the inspector at Caldwell Street with Gretchen and Detective Reyes.
Nobody entered until I unlocked the door myself.
Nobody touched a room without recording it.
Nobody told me my permission was optional.
In the attic, the inspector photographed the place where the lockbox had been found.
She measured dust patterns, old screw holes, and insulation compression.
Then she noticed something beneath a joist.
A second flash drive.
My stomach dropped.
Reyes bagged it.
Frank’s attorney immediately protested.
The inspector said, “It was in plain view after removal of loose insulation.”
Two days later, the drive was reviewed under warrant.
It contained backup messages Frank thought he had deleted.
One was from Caleb.
Renata won’t sign.
Frank replied:
Then make it look like she already did.
Another message named my parents.
If family pressure fails, use the guaranty.
That was the final piece.
Dileia had been greedy.
Caleb had been desperate.
Frank had been experienced enough to turn both into a system.
The case against him hardened overnight.
Then Detective Reyes called me with one last question.
“Did your sister ever tell you why she chose your property first?”
“No.”
He sent me a photograph recovered from the drive.
It was my duplex.
Taken months before I bought it.
May you like
On the back, handwritten in blue ink, were four words.
Perfect for the reliable sister.
