Chapter 7: The Lie Beneath the Signatures
Lauren sat across from Dana, Officer Reed, and me in a courthouse interview room.
Her new attorney remained beside her.
“Dr.
Marsh created the diagnosis,” Lauren said.
“Malcolm used it to close the first investigation.”
Dana switched on a recorder.
“What did they receive in return?”
“Dr.
Marsh got twenty thousand dollars.
Malcolm moved the trust money through RLM Holdings.”
“What does RLM stand for?” I asked.
“Ryan, Lawson, and Marsh.
Malcolm’s full name is Malcolm Lawson Price.”
Her attorney touched her arm.
“Only answer what you know directly.”
Lauren pulled away.
“I know because I signed the transfers.”
“You helped them,” I said.
“Yes.”
“You watched Ryan frighten Sophia.”
“Yes.”
“You saw the marks.”
Lauren shut her eyes.
“Yes.”
“Then why should anyone believe you now?”
“Because I gave Sophia those statements.”
“You gave a five-year-old papers and left her to save herself.”
Lauren’s eyes filled.
“I was afraid of Ryan.”
“So was she.”
“I know.”
“No, Lauren.
You knew.
That’s worse.”
She covered her face, but I did not look away.
“I told myself silence kept him calm,” she said.
“The truth is, my silence kept me comfortable.”
The door opened.
Officer Reed stepped aside as Ryan and Malcolm were escorted past.
Ryan twisted free long enough to see Lauren.
“You weak, ungrateful coward,” he shouted.
“Tell them who really hurt Sophia!”
Lauren stood so quickly her chair fell.
“You did—and I let you.”
“You locked that closet too.”
“Once,” she said, her voice cracking.
“You ordered me to, and I did it.
I will say that in court.”
Ryan’s face hardened.
“Then you’ll lose her forever.”
“I may deserve to.”
He looked at me.
“You think she’ll be safe with Michael?
Ask him where the missing two hundred thousand went.”
A court officer pulled Ryan toward the elevator.
“I know where it went,” Lauren called after him.
“I copied Malcolm’s ledger.”
Malcolm turned pale.
He lunged for Lauren’s suitcase, but Officer Reed caught him before his hand reached it.
“What’s in there?” Dana asked.
Lauren unzipped the lining and removed a second phone.
“Messages, account numbers, and a video of Ryan making Dr.
Marsh sign the false letter.”
Malcolm straightened his jacket.
“A stolen phone proves nothing.”
Lauren tapped the screen.
His recorded voice filled the room.
“Put Michael’s name on the final transfer.
If this collapses, the brother becomes our exit.”
Officer Reed took Malcolm by the arm.
“You’re being detained for questioning.”
“I’m an attorney.”
“Then you know not to resist.”
Malcolm looked back at Lauren.
“You’ll go down with us.”
“I know,” she said.
“But Sophia won’t.”
Hours later, the judge resumed the hearing.
Mrs.
Parker, Diane, Mr.
Harlan, and Dana testified.
The hospital nurse confirmed that Sophia had no clotting disorder.
The judge looked over her glasses at Ryan.
“Temporary custody remains with the department.
Michael is cleared for supervised family placement, effective tonight.”
My breath left me.
Dana squeezed my shoulder.
“Is Sophia here?” I asked.
The side door opened.
Sophia ran across the courtroom and wrapped herself around my waist.
“You came back!”
“I told you I would.”
Ryan was brought forward in restraints.
He stared at Sophia until she hid behind me.
“You’ll grow up knowing your uncle destroyed your family,” he said.
I stepped aside just enough for Sophia to see my face.
“No,” she whispered.
“He believed me.”
Ryan’s mouth tightened as the officers led him away.
Then a bank investigator approached Dana and handed her a new report.
“The trust funds were transferred at eight this morning,” he said.
“To whom?” I asked.
May you like
He pointed to the name on the page.
Every dollar had been moved into an account bearing my name.
