Chapter 12 - THE FLIGHT
The ticket was for a flight to Costa Rica.
Lily had never been to Costa Rica.
Neither had Michael.
At least not according to anything I knew.
But financial investigators discovered that Blue Harbor Consulting controlled a bank account there.
Michael had prepared an escape route.
Whether he planned to use it only if the fraud was discovered or had always intended to leave with Lily, no one could prove yet.
The airline was alerted.
The ticket was canceled.
Border authorities received Michael’s photograph.
Police increased security around the hospital.
For the first time, Lily noticed the officers outside her room.
“Are they here because of Uncle Mike?”
I sat beside her.
“Yes.”
She looked down.
“Is Uncle Mike bad?”
Children ask questions adults spend entire lives avoiding.
I took her hand.
“Your uncle made dangerous choices.”
“Does that make him bad?”
“I think it makes him responsible for what he did.”
She considered that.
Then tears filled her eyes.
“He made pancakes.”
My throat closed.
“I know.”
“He helped me with math.”
“I know.”
“He said he loved me.”
I could barely answer.
“I think part of him did.”
Lily cried quietly.
Not because she was afraid of Michael.
Because she missed the man she thought he was.
That hurt differently.
Detective Collins entered later with another update.
Security footage from the lake house showed Michael arriving three days before the luncheon.
He carried a pink suitcase.
Evelyn arrived thirty minutes later.
Robert came that evening.
All three remained inside for nearly four hours.
Three days before Lily almost died, they had gathered in the house prepared for her.
Collins placed still photographs on the table.
“They were planning something beyond the custody hearing.”
“Taking her out of the country?”
“Possibly.”
“Why?”
“Once Lily was outside the United States, recovering control of the trust could become complicated.”
I stared at the photos.
My mother-in-law.
My brother.
My attorney.
Three people who stood beside me at Anna’s funeral.
Planning to steal Anna’s daughter.
Then Collins received a call.
Michael had used an ATM near the airport.
Officers were moving in.
Twenty minutes later, another update arrived.
They found the car.
They found Michael’s wallet.
They found blood on the driver’s seat.
But Michael was gone.
My phone rang.
Unknown number.
I answered.
Michael’s voice was barely audible.
“Daniel.”
“Where are you?”
“They found me.”
“Who?”
“Robert.”
I looked at Collins.
Michael whispered, “He thinks I gave you everything.”
Then a door slammed somewhere near him.
Michael spoke faster.
“Daniel, listen.”
“The money isn’t the reason Evelyn wants Lily.”
My heart stopped.
“What are you talking about?”
May you like
“There’s something in Anna’s trust nobody told you about.”
The call ended.
