Chapter 3: The Woman Who Had Been Paying My Sister
By Friday, the children were staying at my house under an emergency safety arrangement while the authorities investigated Megan's disappearance.
I had spent three nights sleeping on the floor beside Ben's bed.
Ava had started checking the locks before bedtime.
Noah refused to turn off the hallway light.
Lily had developed a habit of asking whether I was going to work every morning.
The first time she asked, I told her yes.
She nodded.
Then she quietly asked, "Will you come back?""
That question nearly broke me.
On Friday afternoon, I was making grilled cheese sandwiches when someone knocked on my front door.
Three firm knocks.
Not the hesitant tapping of a neighbor.
I wiped my hands and opened it.
A tall woman in a navy coat stood on my porch.
She looked around forty, with dark hair pulled into a neat bun and a leather folder tucked under one arm.
"Claire Montgomery?""
"Yes.""
"My name is Rebecca Shaw. I'm Megan's former employer.""
I blinked.
"Former employer?""
She nodded.
"I own a property management company. Your sister worked in our leasing department for about eight months.""
I glanced toward the kitchen.
The children were watching television.
"How can I help you?""
Rebecca looked over her shoulder.
"May I come inside? This concerns the children.""
I let her in.
She sat at the kitchen table, where Ava's colored pencils and Noah's schoolbooks were scattered beside a half-finished crossword puzzle.
Rebecca looked at the small shoes lined up beneath the bench.
Then she opened her folder.
"Your sister told me she was raising four children alone and struggling financially.""
"That sounds familiar.""
"She asked for an advance on her salary several times. Eventually, she said she needed money for childcare.""
I folded my arms.
"Did you give her any?""
Rebecca nodded.
"More than I should have.""
"How much?""
"Almost fourteen thousand dollars.""
I stared at her.
"Fourteen thousand?""
"She said she had found a private caregiver who watched the children while she worked.""
I sat down.
"That was me.""
Rebecca's expression changed.
"Excuse me?""
"I was the one watching them. I wasn't paid.""
She slowly removed her glasses.
"Then who was the caregiver Megan claimed to be paying?""
"I have no idea.""
Rebecca opened her folder again and took out a series of invoices.
They were dated across several months.
Each listed a childcare provider named *Bright Horizons Family Support*.
The invoices included detailed descriptions.
School pickups.
Overnight supervision.
Meal preparation.
Weekend care.
The provider's address was a mailbox at a commercial shipping center.
I studied the paperwork.
"Have you contacted this company?""
"Yes. The address is registered to a dissolved business.""
I looked up.
"Then where did the money go?""
Rebecca hesitated.
"Your sister received it.""
My jaw tightened.
"She took money from you, the government, and me.""
Rebecca nodded.
"I didn't know about the government payments until yesterday.""
I stood and walked to the sink.
For a moment, I couldn't look at her.
Then she said something unexpected.
"Claire, there's another reason I came.""
I turned.
Rebecca reached into her folder and removed a photograph.
It showed Megan standing outside a hotel, wearing a cream-colored coat.
Beside her was a man.
I recognized him immediately.
Daniel.
Megan's boyfriend.
The father of Ben.
The man who had supposedly disappeared six months earlier.
"What is he doing with her?""
Rebecca watched my face.
"That's Daniel Mercer. He's been visiting our office.""
"Why?""
"Because he wanted to know whether Megan had completed the paperwork.""
"What paperwork?""
Rebecca placed a second document on the table.
It was an application for a family trust.
I scanned the first page.
The proposed beneficiary was Megan's unborn child.
The proposed administrator was Daniel Mercer.
I looked up.
"Why would a baby need a trust?""
Rebecca leaned forward.
"Because the trust is connected to a property.""
"What property?""
"Your house.""
For several seconds, I couldn't speak.
Then I laughed.
"That's impossible. My house is paid off.""
Rebecca nodded.
"I know. I looked into the property records before coming here.""
I stared at her.
"Why?""
"Because your sister mentioned that the children would soon be living in a larger house. She said you'd agreed to let her use yours.""
My stomach twisted.
"I never agreed to that.""
Rebecca slid another sheet toward me.
It was a property inquiry.
My name appeared at the top.
My address was listed below.
And in the notes section was a sentence that made my heart pound.
Owner is willing to transfer occupancy rights to family trust upon completion of guardianship arrangement.
I shook my head.
"No. Absolutely not.""
Rebecca took a breath.
"There's more.""
She pointed to the signature at the bottom.
I recognized it.
It was the same imitation of my handwriting.
I felt sick.
"Who prepared this?""
"Daniel.""
"How do you know?""
"Because he emailed the draft to me.""
I stared at her.
"Why would he email you?""
Rebecca hesitated.
Then she reached into her handbag and pulled out her phone.
"Because he wanted me to invest.""
She opened an email.
The subject line read:
*A New Opportunity for the Family.*
The message was short.
Once the guardianship is finalized, Claire's property will become available for the trust's use. Megan and I can relocate with the baby later, while Claire maintains the children. We need an investor to help us get the arrangement established.
I read it twice.
Then I looked at Rebecca.
"They were planning to move into my house?""
"That's what it appears to say.""
"But the children are already here.""
"Exactly.""
I felt a cold, unfamiliar anger spreading through my chest.
They weren't just trying to make me raise their children.
They were trying to take the house I'd worked fifteen years to pay for.
My phone rang.
Ava.
I answered immediately.
"Hey, sweetheart.""
Her voice was trembling.
"Aunt Claire?""
"What's wrong?""
"There's a man outside.""
I stood.
"What man?""
"He's in a black car. He's been sitting across the street for a long time.""
Rebecca's face changed.
"Claire, don't go outside.""
I moved toward the window.
Across the road, a black SUV was parked beneath the maple tree.
The driver's window was open.
A man sat behind the wheel.
Daniel.
He lifted his phone and pointed it toward my house.
Then he smiled.
My phone vibrated.
A text message appeared from an unknown number.
*Tell Rebecca to stop interfering. We know what you signed.*
I looked down at the forged documents.
Then at the children.
A second message arrived.
*And if you think those kids belong to you, ask Ava what her mother told her about the night Ben was born.*
I slowly raised my eyes.
May you like
Because Ava was standing in the kitchen doorway.
And she was crying.
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