Chapter 7 - DOCTOR STEVE
Detective Kim found Dr. Stephen Vale before sunrise.
He ran a discreet child-development practice serving wealthy families.
He denied evaluating Lily.
Then Rachel showed him the draft report.
"That's not final," he said.
"That's not what I asked."
Vale adjusted his glasses. "I met her informally."
"How many times?"
"Twice."
"Where?"
Dante sat outside the interview room with Rebecca while Lily slept against her aunt's shoulder.
"Why would Vivian want Lily declared impaired?" Dante asked.
"Because Amelia's trust is weird. Her father hated courts and hated Grant's financial instincts. If Lily is healthy and Grant stays her legal parent, the money remains locked until she's twenty-five. Grant can't touch principal. Vivian can't touch anything."
"But if Lily is declared incapable?"
"A guardian can petition for management expenses, housing, education, medical care. Millions can move legally if the right judge signs the right paper."
"And he knew none of this?"
At 5:40 a.m., Rachel returned.
"Vale says Vivian paid him seventy-five thousand dollars through a consulting company."
"For what?"
"He says behavior assessment."
"She is three!"
"You didn't care when she was scrubbing the floor."
Rachel continued. "There's more. Vale says Vivian asked how much documentation would be required to establish long-term incapacity."
"And he answered?"
"He gave her a checklist."
Grant whispered, "Where is it?"
Rachel looked at him.
"We think it was in the nursery camera system."
"What do you mean?"
"The videos weren't just for punishment. They were building a record."
"We just pulled the camera backup."
"And?"
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Rachel looked at Vivian through the glass.
"There is footage of her teaching Lily what to say to the doctor."
