Chapter 5
Diane arrived at the house the following morning.
Elena had returned from the hospital with Leo.
His forehead was bandaged.
Maya sat inside the playpen holding a stuffed rabbit.
Daniel was present.
So was a professional home-health aide.
Diane stopped when she saw the stranger.
“Who is that?”
“Someone I can afford.”
Diane’s mouth tightened.
“Elena.”
“No.”
“You’re being manipulated.”
Daniel remained near the dining-room entrance.
Diane pointed at him.
“He charges money every time you panic.”
Daniel replied:
“I also charge money when people misuse powers of attorney.”
Diane’s face changed.
Only slightly.
Enough.
Elena saw it.
“Where did the caregiver money go?”
Diane laughed.
“You mean the family-support fund?”
“So you knew.”
“Of course I knew.”
“Why didn’t I?”
“You did.”
“No.”
“You signed everything.”
Elena’s hands tightened around the wheelchair rims.
“You told me we couldn’t afford help.”
“We couldn’t afford to waste money.”
“A nanny was waste?”
“You were home.”
“I had newborn twins.”
“You were their mother.”
“And you were being paid to help.”
Diane stepped closer.
Daniel intervened.
“Stay where you are.”
She glared at him.
Elena asked:
“What is Morgan Recreation Holdings?”
Silence.
Diane recovered quickly.
“A reimbursement vehicle.”
“For what?”
“My time.”
Elena stared.
“Your time?”
“I gave up my life for you.”
“You were at pickleball four days a week.”
“I still had to organize everything.”
“You kicked Leo.”
Diane looked toward the toddler.
“He crawled under my feet.”
“You kicked him.”
“He should have been watched.”
Elena’s voice broke.
“You were the one watching him.”
For the first time, Diane had no immediate reply.
Daniel told her she was no longer authorized to access any account, document, property file, or correspondence belonging to Elena or the children.
Diane looked toward Elena.
“You will regret humiliating me.”
Elena answered:
“I already regret trusting you.”
Diane left.
But before the white front door closed, she looked toward the hallway closet.
Not toward Elena.
Not toward Leo.
Toward the place where the black case had been hidden.
Daniel noticed.
May you like
So did Elena.
Whatever Matthew put inside it, Diane still wanted it.
