Chapter 4 - The Emergency Petition
"Did you withhold food to make her repeat statements about her father?"
Daniel wanted to throw the phone through the wall.
Then she went still.
"Because this petition isn't only about custody."
She pointed to a paragraph buried beneath temporary medical authority.
If Sophie entered residential care for more than thirty consecutive days, the acting guardian could authorize trust expenditures for treatment, housing, educational support, and related contracted services.
Daniel frowned.
"So?"
Laura looked at him.
"Sophie's trust is worth eleven point eight million dollars."
Claire snapped, "This is disgusting."
Laura ignored her.
"Brightwood Family Center is private. Extremely expensive. If Claire became temporary decision-maker, she could approve treatment payments."
"To a real center."
Laura opened a corporate registry search.
"Maybe. Except Brightwood's property company is owned by Reed Behavioral Holdings."
Daniel looked toward Claire.
"Reed?"
Laura nodded.
"Marcus Reed."
Claire stood.
"I didn't know that."
Daniel's voice dropped.
"Your brother owns the place you wanted to send my daughter?"
"I said I didn't know!"
Sophie covered her ears.
Daniel immediately lowered his voice.
Laura continued quietly.
"There's more. Brightwood filed an insurance preauthorization request yesterday."
Daniel felt cold.
"For Sophie?"
"Yes."
"Who signed it?"
Laura turned the screen.
Daniel Sutton.
Again.
Forged.
The CPS investigator asked for copies.
Claire began pacing.
"Marcus handles paperwork. Maybe he crossed lines. That doesn't mean I did anything."
Daniel stared at her.
"You starved my daughter while trying to make her repeat a custody allegation."
"I made a mistake."
"That was not a mistake."
Claire looked at Sophie.
"You know I love you."
Sophie moved behind Daniel.
Then, in a voice barely audible, she said, "No, you love the blue folder."
Everyone turned.
Daniel knelt.
"What blue folder?"
Sophie pointed toward the basement door.
"The one she hides behind Mommy's boxes."
Claire lunged toward the basement.
Two officers stopped her.
Daniel went downstairs with Laura.
Behind boxes labeled HANNAH - KEEP, they found a blue accordion folder.
Inside were copies of Sophie's trust documents.
A list of projected Brightwood fees.
And a handwritten note.
DAY 30: GUARDIAN CAN AUTHORIZE TRANSFER.
May you like
At the bottom was another line.
DANIEL MUST BE OUT OF THE HOUSE BEFORE THEN.
