Chapter 3 - Detective Cross’s Warning
The following morning, Margaret went to the police station.
She asked to speak with someone about financial fraud, but the desk officer told her that suspicion alone was not enough to open a criminal case.
Detective Aaron Cross overheard the conversation.
He was tall, serious, and dressed in a dark gray coat despite the mild weather. He invited Margaret into a quiet interview room and closed the door.
“You said your son mentioned hidden accounts,” Aaron began. “Did he give you names, numbers, or documents?”
“No. Only a blue folder.”
“Do you have it?”
“Not yet.”
Aaron’s expression tightened.
“Mrs. Hale, don’t search for it alone.”
“Why?”
“Because we’ve heard the name Hale Medical Transport before.”
Margaret leaned forward.
Aaron explained that several elderly patients had complained about receiving invoices for rides they never took. Most of the amounts were small enough to appear like clerical errors, but one patient had kept every receipt.
That patient had later withdrawn the complaint.
“Why?” Margaret asked.
“He said a woman from the charity visited him and convinced him he was confused.”
“Marissa.”
Aaron did not confirm it, but his silence was enough.
He warned Margaret not to confront her daughter-in-law. Without complete records, they could not prove who had authorized the transfers.
As Margaret prepared to leave, Aaron handed her a card.
“If Daniel contacts you, tell him to call me immediately.”
That evening, Daniel stopped answering his mother’s calls.
Margaret drove to his house.
Marissa opened the door but blocked the entrance with her body.
“Daniel is sleeping,” she said.
“At seven in the evening?”
“He has a headache.”
“I want to see him.”
Marissa smiled without warmth.
“You need to stop interfering in our marriage.”
Margaret raised her voice, hoping Daniel might hear her.
“Tell him Detective Cross wants to speak with him.”
For one brief second, Marissa’s smile disappeared.
Then she shut the door.
As Margaret returned to her car, she noticed a figure behind an upstairs curtain.
Daniel was watching her leave.
May you like
He raised one hand against the glass.
Then someone pulled him away from the window.
