Chapter 17 - VICTOR'S PLAN
The insurance policy changed everything.
Forgery was one thing.
The insurer confirmed the application contained falsified medical information and a forged electronic signature.
Someone had even completed a phone interview pretending to be Mark.
Police traced the call to Victor.
Then they found his abandoned SUV near the interstate.
Inside were clothes, cash, two prepaid phones, and a printed map.
The map was not of the airport.
It was of our neighborhood.
A red circle surrounded Lily's preschool.
I stopped breathing when the detective showed me.
"She's not going back there," I said.
"Already handled," he replied. "We've notified the school and assigned patrol coverage."
Mark looked at the map.
"Was he planning to take her?"
The detective would not speculate.
But Karen did.
"Victor told Diane fear worked faster than lawyers," she said. "He said if Mark would not cooperate, they could make him cooperate."
That afternoon, Victor called Mark directly.
Police recorded it.
"Your mother wants to settle this," Victor said.
Mark kept his voice level. "Then tell her to come in."
"You sign the lake property documents, she disappears, and everyone gets to go home."
"You threatened my daughter."
Victor laughed softly. "I never touched your daughter."
"You used her."
"Your mother used everybody. That's what she does."
Mark glanced at the detective, who signaled him to keep talking.
"Where is she?"
Victor ignored the question.
"Monday. Noon. Old marina office by Lake Ashton. Bring the signed closing packet. No police."
The call ended.
The detective smiled grimly.
"He just gave us a meeting place."
But Monday was still forty-eight hours away.
And Victor was not done.
At 2:11 a.m., our home alarm triggered.
Police arrived within minutes.
No one was inside.
On the front porch sat a single bakery box.
Inside was a pink cupcake.
May you like
And a note addressed to Lily.
TELL DADDY GRANDMA WANTS TO COME HOME.
