Chapter 7 - The Man Who Helped Bury the Truth
“THE PERSON WHO HELPED YOUR MOTHER STEAL FROM AMELIA WAS THE SAME MAN WHO TOLD YOU NORA'S ESTATE WAS SETTLED.”
Rebecca replayed the final seconds of Diane Mercer's recording.
Calvin Price's voice was unmistakable.
“Marlene, this has gone too far. If Jonathan keeps changing the records, someone will notice.”
Nora immediately asked, “Jonathan who?”
A pause followed.
Then Calvin answered.
“Jonathan Reed. Your family's accountant.”
Gabriel felt his stomach tighten.
Jonathan Reed had prepared his family's tax returns for nearly fifteen years.
He had helped establish Gabriel's business.
He had handled documents after Nora's death.
And when Gabriel was too overwhelmed by grief to review every financial statement, Jonathan had assured him that everything was in order.
Gabriel remembered the man's comforting words.
You focus on Amelia. I'll handle the paperwork.
Now those words sounded like a threat disguised as kindness.
Rebecca stopped the recording.
“Gabriel, we need to move carefully. If Jonathan is involved, he may still have access to sensitive financial information.”
Gabriel nodded.
“Then we cut off that access.”
Within hours, Rebecca arranged for an independent forensic accountant, Samuel Brooks, to begin reviewing the records.
Gabriel contacted his banks and business attorney to verify and restrict Jonathan's permissions.
He also reported the suspected forgery and financial exploitation to the appropriate authorities.
The process was not immediate.
There were forms to complete, records to authenticate, and questions Gabriel could not yet answer.
But for the first time, the investigation was moving beyond his family's kitchen.
That evening, Jonathan called.
“Gabriel, I understand you're reviewing some old documents.”
Gabriel stood in his study, looking at Nora's photograph.
“Who told you?”
“Your mother is very upset.”
“She's being investigated for taking money from my daughter's trust.”
Jonathan sighed.
“Family financial arrangements can be complicated.”
“Did you prepare the authorization forms?”
A pause.
“I'd need to review the documents.”
“Did you know my signature was being used?”
“Gabriel, accusations like that can damage reputations.”
“My daughter's future matters more than your reputation.”
Jonathan's voice cooled.
“I suggest you let the professionals handle this.”
Gabriel looked at the phone.
“I intend to.”
He ended the call.
The next morning, Samuel Brooks delivered a preliminary finding.
The caregiving invoices appeared to follow a pattern.
Every three months, Hart Family Development Services submitted charges totaling exactly $18,450.
The invoices listed counseling, transportation, behavioral support, and specialized supervision.
But the supporting records were suspicious.
Several appointments supposedly occurred when Amelia was at school.
Transportation charges included dates when she had not left Connecticut.
And some invoices named professionals who had never treated her.
Samuel looked at Gabriel across the conference table.
“This appears to be a systematic billing scheme, not a bookkeeping mistake.”
Gabriel asked the question he had been dreading.
“How much?”
Samuel turned his laptop.
“Based on the records currently available, eight quarterly payments total $147,600. We still need to verify the full history and trace the transfers.”
Gabriel stared at the number.
Nearly one hundred fifty thousand dollars.
Money Nora had saved for their daughter.
“What happened to it?”
Samuel opened another file.
“Most of it was transferred through the caregiving company. Some went toward credit cards, travel, and a property loan.”
Gabriel frowned.
“What property?”
Samuel hesitated.
“A vacation house in Vermont.”
Gabriel looked up.
His mother had recently announced that she and Everett were planning to buy a retirement property.
She had described it as a reward for decades of sacrifice.
Gabriel now wondered whose sacrifice had paid for it.
Before he could respond, Rebecca entered the room.
Her expression was serious.
“We've received a copy of the other side's latest filing.”
Gabriel stood.
“What now?”
“Marlene's attorney is asking the court to restrict your contact with Amelia pending Monday's hearing.”
Gabriel felt his chest tighten.
“On what grounds?”
Rebecca handed him the document.
It included a photograph of Amelia crying in her bedroom.
Beneath it was a caption claiming the child had suffered emotional distress after an argument with Gabriel.
Gabriel recognized the photograph.
It had been taken on the night he returned from Chicago.
After he discovered Amelia eating beside Biscuit.
After she had begged him not to send her back to the kitchen floor.
His mother had photographed that moment.
Then used it as evidence against him.
Gabriel sat down slowly.
Rebecca placed the document on the table.
“We can challenge the context. But I need to know whether there are any other photographs or recordings we haven't seen.”
Gabriel shook his head.
“Not that I know of.”
Then his phone rang.
It was Claire.
Her voice sounded frightened.
“Gabriel, you need to come here.”
He stood immediately.
“What's wrong?”
“Amelia's okay. She's with me.”
“Then what happened?”
Claire took a breath.
“Your mother came to the house with two people. She said she had papers authorizing her to take Amelia.”
Gabriel's blood ran cold.
“Did you let her in?”
“No. I called the police.”
“Good.”
Claire lowered her voice.
“But Gabriel, she wasn't alone.”
“Who was with her?”
“Jonathan Reed.”
Gabriel closed his eyes.
Then Claire said something worse.
May you like
“Before they left, Jonathan told me Amelia wouldn't be staying with us much longer.”
Cliffhanger: When Gabriel reached Claire's house, he discovered that Marlene had already contacted Amelia's school with a forged emergency guardianship document—and someone had scheduled the child for an unexplained appointment the following morning.
