Chapter 14 - Phase Two
Naomi would not share everything investigators had recovered, but she confirmed that Phase Two contained drafts of proposed treatment arrangements and financial projections.
The material went well beyond the New Year's trip.
It described a residential program for Maya, a proposed long-term care coordinator for Liam, and recurring invoices that would be routed through Chloe's company if authorized by a lawful decision-maker.
The projections assumed the trust would pay even though the trustee had never agreed.
Rachel said an optimistic business model was not a crime by itself.
False statements, fabricated affidavits, and fraudulent billing attempts were different matters.
I was learning to separate what disgusted me from what a court could prove.
Meanwhile, the public narrative changed.
The nurse whose signature appeared on the affidavit issued a brief statement through her employer denying authorship.
The columnist who had interviewed Eleanor amended the article to include the disputed documents and the court's decision.
Eleanor accused unnamed people of conspiring against her.
Chloe stopped posting vacation photographs.
One night, Maya asked whether I hoped my mother would apologize.
I considered the question longer than she expected.
"I hope she tells the truth," I said.
"I don't know whether she can."
Maya looked at Liam sleeping beside us.
"I used to think family meant someone would arrive when you were scared."
"It should."
"Your mother knew I was scared.
She used it."
I had no defense for that.
The next development came from Margaret Sloane.
She had completed a review of the old trust records and found the dispute Joseph referenced in his handwritten note.
Years earlier, Eleanor had sought reimbursement for expenses that the trustees deemed personal.
The reimbursements were denied, and Joseph directed that she hold no fiduciary authority over the trust.
The record explained why Eleanor's new plan relied on an outside care company rather than trying to appoint herself trustee.
Margaret also found a recent invoice draft naming a consultant called Dr.
Alan Pierce.
His professional license status and connection to Family Recovery Services needed verification.
Naomi's team was already examining the identity of the male voice on the pink-taped recorder.
That afternoon, a message arrived from an unknown number.
It contained only an image of a hotel receipt and the words: Ask Chloe who paid Pierce.
Below the message was a photograph of a check.
The payee was Pierce Consulting Group.
The amount was $48,000.
May you like
The memo line read CASE DEVELOPMENT.
