Chapter 17 - The Price of Being Family
The envelope contained copies of Mark's travel schedule, his employer's letterhead, and a draft complaint accusing him of neglecting his daughter. Maya called it an attempt to pressure him, not proof of any real wrongdoing.
"They expected you to panic and give them what they wanted," she said.
"They used Sophie as a weapon," Sarah answered.
"And we're not letting them use her again."
With the court's authorization, investigators reviewed additional documents obtained from Nolan's business. The forged signatures appeared on multiple versions of the same loan package. An accountant found that Clara had taken $36,000, but Nolan controlled the bulk of the money.
Clara's attorney requested a meeting with prosecutors. Clara was prepared to admit her role in obtaining the Bennetts' IDs and giving Nolan access to their computer. She also wanted to apologize to Mark.
"An apology isn't payment for what she did," Mark said.
"No," Maya replied. "And you don't have to hear it."
He chose not to attend. He had already heard her say Sophie was dramatic, clumsy, and a liar. He didn't need one more performance to decide whether his daughter deserved safety.
Later, he found an old photo of himself and Clara on Helen's porch. They were ten and seven, sunburned and laughing. He sat with it for a long time.
"I loved her," he told Sarah.
"You still might," Sarah said. "Love doesn't require access to our child."
That night Detective Ortiz phoned with a new development. Nolan's former bookkeeper had come forward and described how the loan proceeds were split. She had kept backup records after Nolan ordered her to delete them.
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"Why is she talking now?" Mark asked.
"Because he told her to blame the forgery on you."
