Chapter 12 - The Account in Elena's Name
The accusation hit exactly where Victoria wanted it to.
The judge looked at Elena.
"Is that true?"
"No."
Victoria's lawyer produced bank records showing six deposits totaling $74,000 into the account opened under Elena's identity.
Daniel stood. "We have already reported that account as fraudulent."
"After Ms. Reyes was caught influencing the child," Victoria's attorney replied.
Elena wanted to scream.
Instead, she looked at Clara sitting in the courthouse family room behind the glass wall, coloring with a court advocate.
She forced herself to stay calm.
The judge ordered the bank to preserve onboarding data.
Two hours later, the answer arrived.
The account had been opened using a photograph of Elena's driver's license.
Elena knew exactly where that photo had come from.
"Household records," she said.
Every employee's ID was scanned when hired.
Who controlled the files?
Victoria.
But the bank's facial verification image did not show Victoria.
It showed a man.
Lucas Grant.
Victoria's younger brother.
Mark swore.
Lucas had spent years drifting between failed businesses. Mark had quietly paid off one of his debts after Victoria begged him.
Ruiz found Lucas's apartment empty.
His phone was off.
His last credit-card charge had been made near the Wisconsin border.
That evening, Elena drove home from the courthouse with a security escort.
At a red light, her brake pedal sank almost to the floor.
She pumped it.
Nothing.
The SUV rolled into the intersection.
A truck horn exploded to her left.
Elena jerked the wheel and slammed into a snowbank beside the curb.
Airbags burst open.
For several seconds she tasted blood and dust.
The security car stopped behind her.
A mechanic later found the rear brake line cleanly cut.
Ruiz stood beneath the garage lights staring at it.
"This isn't intimidation anymore."
Elena's hands began shaking.
Then Mark's phone rang.
The caller ID showed Clara's school.
He answered.
"Mr. Mercer? We need you to confirm something. A man is here with paperwork authorizing him to pick up Clara."
Mark went cold.
"Clara isn't at school."
The woman on the line stopped speaking.
May you like
Then she whispered, "Oh my God."
In the background, someone started shouting.
