Chapter 13 - SEVENTY-TWO HOURS
The hospital still had archived records.
Because the case involved possible fraud, Ortiz obtained copies quickly.
Amelia sat beside Rachel while they reviewed everything.
Consent forms.
Medication records.
Insurance documents.
Emergency contact information.
Then they found it.
A durable financial power of attorney.
Signed by Amelia.
Three days before Daniel died.
Naming Joanna as temporary agent.
Amelia stared at her own signature.
“I don’t remember this.”
Rachel pointed to the witness section.
Joanna had not signed as witness.
A hospital administrative employee had.
Ortiz interviewed her.
She remembered very little after eight years, but she confirmed patients were sometimes given outside legal paperwork by family members.
Amelia’s signature appeared genuine.
That was the problem.
She may have signed it without understanding what it was.
The document gave Joanna broad temporary authority over several accounts while Amelia was medically incapacitated.
It expired ninety days later.
But ninety days was more than enough.
Daniel died three days after it was signed.
Amelia’s mother died six days after that.
For nearly three months, Joanna had legal-looking authority to act in Amelia’s name.
Rachel traced transfers from that period.
$110,000 moved.
Some from estate distributions.
Some from Daniel’s accounts.
Some from Amelia’s personal savings.
Joanna later claimed most had been used for funeral expenses, taxes, and household needs.
The receipts did not support that.
Then Ortiz called.
“I need you to come in.”
“Why?”
“The vehicle specialist finished reviewing the crash photographs.”
Amelia’s mouth went dry.
At the station, Ortiz placed enlarged images on a table.
The rear tire valve stem appeared damaged.
The original investigator considered road debris.
The new specialist disagreed.
“He believes it may have been intentionally loosened.”
“May have been?”
“We cannot prove it after eight years.”
Amelia’s hope collapsed.
Ortiz continued.
“But Daniel’s phone records gave us something else.”
He showed her a map.
The night before Daniel died, his phone spent forty-seven minutes near Joanna’s apartment.
“That doesn’t prove anything.”
“No.”
Then Ortiz showed another record.
Joanna’s phone followed Daniel’s vehicle for nearly nine miles the next morning.
Amelia looked up.
“Why?”
“We asked her attorney.”
“And?”
“They say coincidence.”
Ortiz leaned back.
“Joanna has now refused a voluntary interview.”
Amelia felt the walls closing around an answer she could almost touch.
Then Rachel’s phone rang.
She stepped outside.
When she returned, her face was pale.
“What happened?”
“The court scheduled the emergency trust hearing.”
“When?”
“Seventy-two hours.”
Amelia nodded slowly.
Rachel did not.
“There’s another problem.”
“What?”
“Joanna just filed for temporary visitation rights with Maisie.”
Amelia stood.
“She did what?”
“She claims you are alienating Maisie from a primary attachment figure.”
Amelia stared at Rachel.
May you like
Joanna was not simply defending herself anymore.
She was reaching for the child who had exposed her.
