Chapter 8 - THE HOUSE WITH TWO LOCKED ROOMS
Laura returned home with police accompaniment to collect belongings.
Dean was not there.
The house felt different without his voice.
Smaller.
Less certain.
Ava’s room looked untouched.
Stuffed rabbit.
Purple blanket.
Glow-in-the-dark stars.
Then Ava pointed toward Dean’s office.
“Daddy says I can’t go there.”
Laura looked at Officer Jimenez.
Carla had volunteered to accompany the civil standby.
They entered only areas Laura legally had access to.
Dean’s office door was locked.
Laura had a key.
Inside, two filing cabinets were also locked.
Her attorney advised her not to force them.
Then Ava pointed toward the closet.
“Other room.”
Laura frowned.
“What other room?”
A false panel behind hanging coats concealed a narrow storage space.
Inside were boxes.
Medical records.
Trust documents.
Photographs.
Audio equipment.
And dozens of printed pages titled.
LAURA INCIDENT LOG.
Dates stretched back three years.
One entry read.
Laura became emotional after argument.
Another.
Laura objected to Marilyn staying overnight.
Another.
Laura raised voice when Dean corrected Ava.
Then.
Possible postpartum instability remains useful if needed.
Laura read it twice.
Useful.
Her pain had been categorized as useful.
Then Carla found a folder bearing Ava’s name.
Inside was a copy of the trust.
Highlighted.
SUCCESSOR TRUSTEE PROVISION.
BENEFICIARY HOUSING DISTRIBUTIONS.
REAL PROPERTY PURCHASES.
Dean had marked the exact clauses that could turn Ava’s inheritance into a funding source.
There was also a printed listing.
A waterfront house in Marblehead.
Price.
$1.8 million.
Across the top Dean had written.
PURCHASE THROUGH AVA TRUST AFTER CUSTODY.
May you like
Laura sat down on the office floor.
He had already chosen the house he planned to buy with their daughter’s money.
