“I’m going to need access to all household bank accounts. Now.”
Her mother’s lawyer face appeared, the one she used when she wanted to sound reasonable.
“We’ll cooperate fully, of course. But I think you’ll find everything was used appropriately—”
“Mom.”
Claire’s voice was quiet.
Deadly.
“Where’s my college fund?”
Her mother went still.
“What?”
“The fund Grandpa set up when I was born. The one you said we had to use for Vanessa’s surgery.”
Her mother’s face turned gray.
Edward’s eyes sharpened.
“What surgery?”
Claire looked at her sister.
Vanessa had gone pale.
“There was no surgery,” Claire whispered.
The room seemed to tilt.
Detective Chen’s expression hardened.
“I think we need to continue this conversation at the station.”
Her father slammed his glass down on the mantle.
“This is absurd. We’re her parents. We have the right—”
“You have the right to remain silent,” Detective Chen said calmly. “Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law.”
Her mother started crying.
Her father started shouting.
Vanessa bolted for the stairs.
An officer caught her by the arm.
“Ma’am, we’re going to need you to stay here.”
Claire watched it all from the doorway.
Lily stirred against her chest.
Edward walked over and placed his hand on her back.
