Chapter 10: What Carter Had to Lose
Patricia Holt called at four-fifteen.
"We've had a development," she said.
"Carter Webb's solicitor contacted us this afternoon.
Webb is willing to provide a full account of the financial arrangement in exchange for a cooperation agreement."
Daniel was in his office, the door closed.
"What does that mean?"
"It means Carter Webb wants to talk — and what he's offering to say is significant enough that the financial crimes unit is interested in hearing it."
"What is he claiming?"
"He's claiming the structure of Meridian Holdings — the property acquisition plan, the trust amendment — was not his design.
He's saying he provided the legal framework, the offshore account structure, and the technical execution.
But he is asserting that the plan originated with Maya and that he was operating as a paid facilitator."
"He's placing it on her."
"He's placing the primary intent on her, yes.
In exchange for reduced exposure.
His solicitor is calling it a cooperation disclosure."
Daniel absorbed that.
"Is he credible?"
"He has documentation.
Email correspondence.
Voice messages.
A detailed record of instructions received over a seven-month period."
Seven months of instructions.
While Daniel had made dinner and driven the children to school and sat across the table from her every evening and believed things were normal.
"What does this mean for Lily's trust?" he asked.
"The fraud investigation was already underway regardless of Webb's cooperation.
The amendment remains suspended.
Lily's position is protected." Patricia's voice was steady.
"But with Webb's documentation added to the case file, the picture of what was being planned becomes much clearer.
This is no longer a civil dispute about account transfers.
The financial crimes unit is looking at fraud, forgery, and conspiracy to defraud."
"All three."
"All three."
Daniel set his elbow on the desk and rubbed his hand across his face.
"What do you need from me?"
"Nothing more right now.
The legal holds are in place.
The documentation is with the right people.
What I'd like you to consider is how you want to approach things at home in the immediate term — meaning Lily's living situation, the children's routines, and whether you feel the home environment is stable."
He thought of Lily's sneakers lined up beside her bed.
The lunch account with five weeks of declined transactions.
The way she'd said *she forgets me on purpose* like it was just a true thing, a weather thing, a thing that simply was.
"I'll manage it," he said.
"Lily stays in her routine.
School, home, normal as I can keep it."
"Good.
One more thing." Patricia paused briefly.
"Maya may become aware of Webb's cooperation through her own legal counsel.
When she does, she may attempt to contact you or to change her story.
I'd recommend that any direct communication from her goes through me from this point forward."
"Understood."
"You're doing the right things, Mr.
Reeves.
All of them."
He thanked her and set his phone down.
He sat there for a while without moving.
Then he opened his laptop and began drafting an email to his sister, asking if Lily could spend a couple of nights with her next week — framed as a treat, a sleepover, something to look forward to.
He wrote *something to look forward to* and stopped.
He thought about Lily choosing that one modest shoebox.
One pair.
Because her father had said she could.
May you like
And even that had been pushed back across the counter.
He finished the email and sent it.
