Chapter 3
My lawyer, Lydia Ross, arrived before the police.
Evelyn looked offended by that.
As if I had broken some rule by preparing for survival.
Lydia walked into the living room in a gray coat, carrying a leather folder and the calm expression of a woman who had expected worse.
She looked at my lip.
Then at my scraped knees.
Then at Evelyn.
“Mrs. Hayes,” she said, “you should stop talking.”
Evelyn sneered.
“This is a family matter.”
“No,” Lydia said. “This is assault, defamation, financial fraud, and possibly conspiracy.”
Robert sat down slowly.
He looked older than he had an hour ago.
Daniel stood near the fireplace, the same place where he had watched me bleed.
Only now his arms were no longer crossed.
They hung at his sides.
Useless.
Like him.
Lydia asked for my phone.
I gave it to her.
She copied the recording immediately.
Then she played the final part.
Evelyn’s voice filled the room again.
“Once Robert is declared incompetent, everything moves through Daniel. Emily will take the blame if anyone questions the missing funds.”
Robert’s hands trembled.
“Incompetent?”
Evelyn said, “Robert, don’t listen to her.”
He looked at his wife.
“Were you drugging my coffee?”
Her face went white.
The room shifted.
Aunt Marlene gasped.
Clara covered her mouth.
Daniel whispered, “What?”
Robert stood.
“I asked you a question.”
Evelyn backed up.
“You’ve been forgetful. I was helping.”
Lydia opened her folder.
“We suspected medication tampering after Emily found pharmacy receipts in the trash last month.”
Daniel turned to me.
“You knew?”
“I told you.”
His face crumpled.
“You said Mom was hurting Dad.”
“And you told me I was jealous.”
Police knocked on the door.
Evelyn tried to run toward the hallway.
Robert blocked her.
“Not this time.”
May you like
The officers entered.
And the house Evelyn ruled with fear finally began to answer to someone else.
