Chapter 9 - BEFORE THE MARRIAGE
Arthur stared at the date.
"That's impossible."
Maria said nothing.
He had met Elena at a charity gala three years after Claire's death. At least, that was what he had believed.
Ben traced the company records. "Victor's shell company received nine hundred thousand dollars from a Vance Medical consulting account. Graham approved it."
Daniel frowned. "What was the consulting work?"
"No description."
Arthur called Elena.
She answered with a smooth, almost bored voice. "Ready to apologize?"
"How long have you known Graham?"
Silence.
"Excuse me?"
"How long?"
"He's your lawyer. Obviously I know him."
"Claire had records connecting him to Victor six years ago."
The line went quiet.
Then Elena said, "You should stop digging into things you don't understand."
Arthur's blood went cold. "That's not a denial."
"It's advice."
She hung up.
An hour later, Arthur received an email from the board. The emergency CEO suspension had passed seven votes to four.
He was locked out of company systems.
Then Daniel received worse news.
"The custody evaluator assigned to tomorrow's home visit is Dr. Malcolm Reese."
Arthur stared at him. "The suspended doctor?"
"The same man who wrote the fake letter."
"How is he an evaluator?"
"He's not supposed to be. The court order names a licensed psychologist with a similar name. Someone altered the service copy sent to us."
Ben swore under his breath.
Maria looked toward the window. "They want him inside the house."
Arthur followed her gaze.
Across the street, a black SUV had been parked for twenty minutes.
The driver's window lowered.
May you like
A camera lens pointed directly at Lucas's bedroom.
Then the SUV sped away.
