Chapter 10 - the last secret florence tried to use)
Florence walked onto the porch with empty hands.
Police surrounded her.
She did not resist.
Aaron watched from behind the vehicle.
Even from a distance, he could see her looking for him.
When officers guided her toward a patrol car, she finally spotted him.
She smiled.
Aaron felt nothing.
That frightened him more than anger would have.
Florence called out.
"Maya lied to you."
Aaron did not move.
"She knew about everything."
Ortiz stepped between them.
Florence laughed.
"Ask her about the account."
Aaron's stomach tightened despite himself.
Florence was placed in the car.
The door closed.
Her face disappeared behind reflected lights.
Aaron went home to Maya.
Not their house.
Nina's apartment.
Chloe was asleep.
Maya sat at the kitchen table.
Aaron told her what Florence said.
Maya became very still.
"Which account?"
"She didn't say."
Maya looked down.
Aaron's chest tightened again.
"There is an account."
"Yes."
He pulled out a chair.
"Tell me."
Maya took a breath.
"Your father created an education trust."
"For Chloe?"
"For any grandchildren you might have."
Aaron frowned.
"How did you know?"
"I found it while researching Bellweather."
"And you didn't tell me."
"I was trying to understand it first."
Aaron felt frustration.
"Why would my mother use that against you?"
"Because I moved the money."
Aaron stared at her.
"You what?"
"Temporarily."
"How much?"
"One hundred eighty thousand dollars."
Aaron stood.
Maya's eyes filled.
"Listen to me."
"You moved money from my father's trust without telling me?"
"Yes."
"Where?"
"Into an escrow account controlled by my attorney."
"Why?"
"Because Florence was trying to drain everything."
Aaron paced away.
The irony was brutal.
His entire family had hidden money.
His mother.
His brother.
Now Maya.
She followed him.
"I was protecting it."
"That's what my mother says."
Maya flinched.
Aaron regretted the sentence immediately.
But it was already between them.
"Don't compare me to her."
"I'm trying not to."
"I documented everything. My attorney has records. Every dollar is untouched."
"You should have told me."
"Yes."
"Why didn't you?"
"Because you defended Florence every time I questioned her."
Aaron stopped.
Maya continued.
"Do you remember last year when I said your mother was opening your mail?"
"You said she was helping with paperwork."
"Because that's what you told me."
Aaron looked away.
"You weren't ready to see her."
The truth hurt because it was accurate.
Maya's voice softened.
"I was wrong not to tell you. I know that."
Aaron sat again.
"Anything else?"
"No."
"Think carefully."
"I am."
"No other money. No documents. No secrets."
Maya stared at him.
"There's one thing."
Aaron closed his eyes briefly.
"What?"
"Chloe recorded something the night before you left."
"With the doll?"
Maya nodded.
"I didn't know it recorded automatically."
"What did she hear?"
"I don't know. Chloe said Grandma was talking to someone in the garage."
"Why didn't you find the video?"
"It may be on another card."
Aaron stared.
"Another card?"
"The camera stored locally, but it could also write to internal memory."
The next morning, a digital forensic technician examined the doll.
Inside its body was a tiny camera unit Thomas had apparently installed years ago.
Maya had unknowingly reused parts of it when she updated the device.
The camera contained four gigabytes of internal storage.
Most files were corrupted.
One was recoverable.
It had been recorded the night before Aaron left.
The image showed only darkness.
The doll had been inside Chloe's backpack near the garage door.
Audio was clear.
Florence spoke.
"Denver is confirmed."
A male voice answered.
Not Lucas.
Calvin.
"He'll be there three days."
"Make it longer."
"How?"
"Create a problem."
Aaron listened.
Calvin replied, "And Maya?"
Florence answered.
"She'll sign."
"What if she doesn't?"
A pause.
Then Florence said, "Then Aaron comes home to a tragedy."
Aaron stopped the playback.
Nobody in the room spoke.
Ortiz looked at him.
"She was planning something before he left."
Aaron whispered, "A tragedy."
The recording continued.
Calvin asked, "Which one?"
Florence replied.
"It depends who behaves."
Aaron felt sick.
Maya reached for his hand.
There was no longer any question whether Florence had merely escalated during Aaron's absence.
She had planned the confinement.
Possibly worse.
The district attorney filed additional charges.
Kidnapping.
Conspiracy.
Attempted extortion.
Financial crimes.
And, pending final forensic review, homicide charges related to Thomas.
Florence requested to speak with Aaron.
He refused.
She requested again.
He refused again.
Then Ortiz brought him a handwritten note from Florence.
Only one sentence.
Your father chose you because he knew Lucas was weak.
Aaron folded it.
For the first time, he understood that the note was not information.
It was bait.
Florence wanted him to ask why.
He tore it in half.
"Put that with the evidence."
Ortiz smiled faintly.
"You sure?"
"Yes."
He looked toward Maya and Chloe waiting at the end of the hallway.
"I already know everything I need."
But the investigation was not finished.
Because forensic accountants had discovered the offshore transfer.
May you like
And the receiving account was not in Florence's name.
It was in Chloe's.
