Chapter 6 - Melissa Talks
Melissa asked for an attorney.
Then cooperated through counsel.
She was not the mastermind.
She was not innocent either.
Her story began three months earlier.
Daniel volunteered on Fairmont Academy’s technology committee.
Parents with money often do useful things and annoying things in equal proportion.
He helped fund classroom equipment.
Knew staff.
Was charming.
Melissa was going through a difficult divorce.
Daniel listened.
Then began asking administrative questions.
“How quickly can emergency contacts be changed?”
“What if one parent relocates?”
“Can transfer documents be prepared before the final withdrawal date?”
Normal questions individually.
Then he told her Rachel—me—was unstable.
Controlling.
Preparing to take Noah suddenly.
He said he wanted paperwork ready in case we:
“needed a clean transition.”
Melissa believed him.
At first.
Then Daniel asked her to create documents in my name.
She refused.
He said:
“It isn’t fraud. Rachel already agreed verbally.”
She still resisted.
Then he offered her $8,000 for:
“private administrative consulting.”
She accepted.
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That was her first serious mistake.
After that, saying no became harder.
