Chapter 3 - THE COLUMN MARKED CONTROL
By morning, Chen had a search warrant for Amanda's locked office. Daniel was still on medication when she returned with photographs of an ordinary desk, three hidden drives, and a folder titled HOME MANAGEMENT.
“It's a budget,” Daniel said at first.
“Not a family budget.” Chen turned the tablet.
The ledger listed private investigators, surveillance subscriptions, credit applications, and legal consultations. Under CONTROL EXPENSES were payments labeled debt placement, document preparation, and witness management.
“What does debt placement mean?” Daniel asked.
“We're examining that.”
Then he saw his own name beside six loans he'd never requested. He recognized his Social Security number, his work address, and a signature that resembled his except for the final stroke.
“Those aren't mine.”
“That's one of the reasons we're involving financial investigators.”
Chen scrolled to an internal memo dated eleven months earlier.
OBJECTIVE: SEPARATE D.B. FROM MINORS. RESTRICT INDEPENDENT ACCESS. COMPLETE CUSTODY TRANSFER BEFORE LIQUIDATION.
Daniel read it twice before he understood that D.B. meant him.
Amanda had criticized his work hours, insisted he was forgetful, and persuaded him that she alone could manage their money. She'd photographed him asleep after exhausting shifts and described those pictures as proof he was unstable.
“There's a second name,” Brooks said, pointing.
CODY ELLIS — REPLACEMENT HUSBAND.
Daniel had never heard of him.
Emma, standing near the door, made a sound that caused everyone to turn. “Cody?”
“You know him?” Chen asked.
Emma's lips went white. “Mom told us he was her cousin. He came over when Dad traveled for work. He brought Noah toys.”
She took out her phone and opened a picture from last Christmas. Amanda was smiling beside a tall man in a navy sweater. His arm rested around Noah.
Daniel stared at the familiar face.
May you like
That was the man driving the dark pickup outside the hospital.
