Chapter 5
Theron inspected the house with a neutral estate representative.
He did not want to walk in alone and begin removing things while the guardianship dispute was active.
The trust company sent Caroline Webb.
She photographed each room.
Ione’s bedroom looked stripped.
Bed gone.
Bookshelf gone.
Toy chest marked sold.
Half the closet emptied.
Corinne had moved Miles’s desk inside.
A gaming console sat where Ione’s lamp used to be.
Theron stood in the doorway.
Caroline said quietly:
“Take your time.”
“I’m fine.”
He was not.
A cardboard box sat on the floor labeled:
IONE — NORTHFIELD
Inside:
Four outfits.
Underwear.
Two pairs of socks.
One sweater.
A toothbrush.
Nothing personal except her family photograph.
Theron stared at it.
“She packed my daughter for ninety days in one box.”
Caroline photographed everything.
Downstairs, another set of boxes contained household items listed for online sale.
Some belonged to the trust-owned residence.
Furniture.
Decor.
A side table.
Two lamps.
Corinne had no authority to sell them.
The amounts were small.
That did not make it acceptable.
Total confirmed sales:
$4,870.
Most money went into Corinne’s personal account.
Her attorney quickly offered to escrow the proceeds.
Good.
Still evidence.
Then Caroline checked prior trust reimbursements.
Melisande had acted as temporary caregiver during several of Theron’s work trips.
The trust legitimately reimbursed her for meals, transportation, and overnight supervision.
Over eighteen months:
$43,600.
Not outrageous given the number of days.
But seven reimbursements were inflated.
Melisande claimed overnight care on days Corinne actually stayed with Ione.
She also submitted housekeeping charges for work already covered by Theron.
Questionable amount:
About $18,000.
Again:
Not a fortune.
But a pattern.
Mara cautioned Theron.
“Don’t turn every accounting mistake into theft.”
“I’m not.”
“You’re making the face.”
“Everyone says that.”
“Everyone is probably right.”
Then Caroline found a more important invoice.
Melisande had obtained a professional estimate for “guardian household support” beginning next month.
Projected annual reimbursement:
$82,000.
It included:
Caregiving.
Transportation.
Household coordination.
Educational support.
The proposal listed Corinne as a paid secondary caregiver.
Projected annual payment:
$41,000.
Theron stared.
“They planned salaries.”
“Reimbursements,” Caroline corrected.
“Same check.”
“Different legal structure.”
Fine.
The plan would not automatically be approved.
The trustee had not agreed.
But Melisande had prepared it.
Then Mara received the driveway video.
Corinne’s phone had recorded twenty-three minutes before Theron arrived.
Boxes arranged.
Price tags attached.
Melisande checked her phone repeatedly.
At 1:49 she said:
“He’s fifteen out.”
Corinne replied:
“Good.”
No context yet.
At 1:58:
“Put the purse box closer to the wheelbarrow.”
Theron paused the video.
“Why?”
Mara looked at him.
“Keep watching.”
Corinne moved her expensive handbag box from the porch to a spot directly beside the muddy wheelbarrow.
Theron felt cold.
May you like
He had grabbed the nearest thing.
They had put it there.
