Chapter 9 - Aunt Denise's Version
Denise showed up at the advocacy office wearing a cream coat and the face she used when a cashier made a mistake.
"I came to see my niece," she told the receptionist.
Beth called security instead of bringing her inside. Caleb met Denise outside while Mom and I watched through the window.
I couldn't hear everything, but I saw her point toward the building and mouth the words MY FAMILY.
Caleb came back looking older.
"She says Ethan was stressed about the business," he told us. "She also says you took the money, Sarah."
Mom pressed her fingertips against her bruised cheek. "She watched him put a lock on that pantry."
"I told her that," Caleb said. "She said it wasn't her business."
"It became her business when she took his checks," I said.
Caleb looked at me. "It may have. But that's for investigators to establish. You don't owe Denise a conversation."
The detective arranged to examine Denise's role. A former fund employee had come forward after recognizing Ethan's name in a local report, and she had records that weren't in our folder.
I wanted to know everything immediately. Mom made me finish my homework first.
"Seriously?" I asked.
"Your math teacher has waited a week for that assignment. He doesn't have to wait forever because Ethan's cruel."
I stared at her. Then I picked up my pencil.
That night, Denise left a voicemail on Caleb's phone. She sounded differentāless polished, almost frightened.
"Tell Sarah there was another name on the money transfers. Ethan never told me what he did with the second account."
Caleb played the message twice.
"Whose name?" Mom asked.
May you like
Denise had answered that question at the very end of the recording.
"It's a child," she whispered. "And the child isn't Emily."
