Chapter 3
Carla was arrested the following morning.
Not dramatically.
A detective called and asked her to come in.
The photographs Naomi took helped.
So did Lily’s injury documentation.
Carla insisted she had only swung the skewer to frighten Lily and struck her accidentally.
Naomi’s kick was also reviewed.
The detective did not pretend it had not happened.
“You kicked your sister.”
“She had just hit my daughter with a steel skewer.”
“I understand context.”
“Then why do you keep saying it like those things are equal?”
“I’m not.”
He looked directly at Naomi.
“I’m documenting both.”
She hated it.
She also understood.
The evidence mattered more if nobody exaggerated it.
Carla was released pending further proceedings with a temporary no-contact condition involving Lily.
Diane was furious.
She called Naomi.
“You had your own sister arrested.”
“No.”
Naomi stood in Maya Sullivan’s office now, phone on speaker.
“Carla had herself arrested.”
Maya smiled slightly.
Diane continued.
“Families handle things privately.”
Naomi looked at Maya.
That sentence was always dangerous.
“Not when my daughter is injured.”
“You embarrassed everyone.”
“Lily screamed on the grass while you defended Carla.”
“She was upset.”
“She said Lily deserved it.”
Diane became quiet.
Then:
“You don’t understand what’s at stake.”
Naomi’s attention sharpened.
“What’s at stake?”
Diane recovered.
“Your family.”
“No.”
Naomi’s voice hardened.
“My family was the six-year-old you ignored.”
She ended the call.
Maya had already begun reviewing the property issue.
Unlike Owen, Maya represented Naomi personally.
She was not trustee.
That distinction mattered.
“The house cannot be sold by Diane or Robert.”
“I know.”
“The trust controls legal title.”
“I know.”
“So what exactly did they think they were doing?”
“That’s what I want to know.”
Maya opened another file.
Westline Residential had not merely made an inquiry.
It had prepared a letter of intent.
The proposed deal divided the rear property from the main residence and created a new private road.
The numbers were significant.
Four point six million purchase price.
Two hundred thousand in consulting and facilitation fees.
Naomi’s eyes narrowed.
“To who?”
“The agreement doesn’t name everyone.”
Maya pointed at one payment schedule.
Hale Property Strategies would receive one hundred twenty thousand.
Another consulting payment of eighty thousand was designated for:
C. Arden Consulting.
Naomi almost laughed.
“Carla’s middle name is Arden.”
Maya nodded.
Second clue.
Carla stood to make money if the property transaction closed.
The assault still looked personal.
But the property dispute now belonged directly to her too.
Then Maya found something stranger.
The letter of intent contained a condition:
Seller-side confirmation of authorized guardian representation for minor beneficiary.
Naomi stared at it.
“Guardian?”
“Yes.”
“I’m Lily’s mother.”
“Yes.”
“Then why would they need anyone else?”
May you like
Maya closed the file.
“That is the question I care about most.”
