Chapter 9 - Beth at the Side Door
At sunrise on Sunday, Beth appeared at the family services office with a swollen face and a canvas tote. She asked for Moreno by name. The receptionist called the detective, not us, and Beth waited behind a closed door until officers arrived.
Moreno arranged a monitored conversation with Beth after her interview. I sat beside Ruth.
My stepdaughter looked exhausted. The old defiance was gone. She kept tugging at her sleeves.
"I never planned to hurt anybody," she said.
"You planned to have us locked inside," I answered.
"I thought they'd make Mom sign and leave. Simon said he'd cancel the debt."
Ruth's voice was very soft. "And what if I refused?"
Beth began to cry. "I didn't ask."
"You didn't want the answer," Ruth said.
Beth opened the tote. Inside were copies of payment agreements and a message thread. She had kept screenshots after Simon began threatening her. They showed an increasing demand: first a signed option, then possession of the house, then a meeting with every adult who could challenge the transfer.
"Why everyone?" I asked.
"He thought Micah could sign a statement saying Mom wasn't capable of managing her property. He thought Leah would back him if Winnie was scared."
Micah wasn't in the room, but I could imagine his response. He would never have agreed. The plan depended on pressure, not permission.
"Tell Moreno everything," I said. "Even what makes you look guilty."
Beth covered her face. "I already did."
Through the glass we saw an officer hurry toward the detective's office. A moment later Moreno came out, speaking into her radio.
May you like
Someone had forced a door at Rosebridge that morning. The house was empty, but the motion alarm showed movement near Ruth's studio.
And the studio contained dozens of children's paintings with their names and addresses on the back.
