At 9:57 p.m., I parked two houses away and approached from the side street.
Emily had written an additional message on the back of her note.
Kitchen window. Don’t knock.
Through the partially open window, I could hear voices carrying into the night.
Richard spoke first.
“You embarrassed your mother today.”
Emily answered quietly. “I didn’t say anything.”
“That’s exactly the problem,” Victoria snapped. “You let Claire stare at you like some pathetic victim.”
Then I heard Daniel.
My stomach tightened.
He hadn’t gone home.
“She won’t be a problem,” he said. “Claire asks questions, but she’ll learn.”
Victoria laughed.
“They all learn.”
I began recording.
Inside, Emily stood beside the kitchen table while Richard held a folder.
He slapped it down in front of her.
“Sign.”
“I already told you no.”
Daniel sighed as though his sister were simply being difficult.
“You’re being ridiculous, Em.”
“What is it?” Victoria demanded. “You think you deserve Grandmother’s trust money after everything we’ve done for you?”
Suddenly, the situation made sense.
Emily wasn’t living with her parents because she was incapable of leaving.
They wanted her there because she had money.
