Chapter 4 - The Unwritten Will
Claire lunged toward the back patio door, shoving a heavy wooden chair into my path as she bolted.
I stumbled over the legs, smashing the flashlight against the floor before regaining my balance.
By the time I burst onto the patio, her tail lights were disappearing down the winding driveway into the fog.
I ran back inside, grabbing the external flash drive she had left plugged into the wall outlet in her hurry.
My phone buzzed violently in my jacket pocket.
It was Detective Collins.
"Daniel, stay in the house," Sarah barked over the crackling speaker.
"We just intercepted a jailhouse call from Michael. He wasn't trying to flee when officers tackled him."
"What was he doing?" I asked, my chest heaving as I stared at the drive in my palm.
"He was trying to trigger a liquidation clause in Anna's trust," Sarah explained.
"If Lily is deemed mentally unfit or physically incapacitated before her ninth birthday, the money doesn't revert to you."
"Where does it go?"
"To a blind charitable foundation controlled by a board of directors," Sarah said grimly.
"And three hours ago, Claire Vance was appointed as the sole managing director of that board."
The puzzle pieces snapped together with a sickening, audible clarity.
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The peanut exposure at the luncheon hadn't been an attempt to frame me for neglect.
It had been a deliberate attempt to permanently damage Lily’s health before her birthday next week.
