Her father’s face went white.
“What the hell is this?”
Detective Chen held up her badge.
“I’m Detective Sarah Chen. We’re here to ask some questions about financial accounts connected to this household.”
Her mother set down her wine glass.
Slowly.
Too slowly.
“I don’t understand.”
Edward’s voice cut through the room like a blade.
“Nine hundred thousand dollars, Linda.”
Her mother blinked.
“What?”
“I’ve been sending fifteen thousand dollars a month to this household for five years. The money was for Claire.”
Vanessa sat up.
Her father didn’t move.
Her mother’s mouth opened.
Nothing came out.
Edward pulled a folded paper from his coat and handed it to Detective Chen.
“Bank records. Every deposit. I want to know where it went.”
Detective Chen looked at Claire’s parents.
“We can do this here, or we can do this at the station.”
Her father finally spoke.
His voice was tight.
Controlled.
“The money went to household expenses.”
“What expenses?” Edward asked.
Her father gestured vaguely.
“Mortgage. Utilities. Food.”
Edward’s smile was cold.
“You don’t have a mortgage. I paid off this house fifteen years ago.”
