Chapter 6 - The First Consequence
Daniel's relief vanished instantly.
“You can't be serious.”
Margaret sat in her late husband's chair near the window.
For years, Daniel had occupied it without asking.
Now he remained standing.
Edward explained the situation.
“Because neither Daniel nor Linda has a lease, ownership interest, or formal tenancy agreement, Mrs. Collins may revoke permission for them to remain here.”
Linda pointed toward the hallway.
“All our belongings are here.”
“You will be given supervised access to collect them.”
“This is insane!” Daniel shouted.
One of the security officers took a step forward.
Margaret raised a hand.
The officer stopped.
Daniel looked at her, shocked by the silent authority in that simple gesture.
“Mom, I made one mistake.”
Margaret's expression did not change.
“One?”
Daniel opened his mouth, then closed it.
Linda began crying.
The tears came suddenly and perfectly, as though summoned on command.
“We took care of you,” she said. “We gave you a family.”
Margaret almost laughed.
Instead, she remembered every birthday spent cooking while Linda invited friends who ignored her.
Every winter she wore the same damaged coat because Daniel claimed money was tight.
Every month she handed over her pension, believing it paid household expenses.
Michael placed the tablet on the table again.
“Our financial audit has already identified irregular transfers.”
Daniel turned sharply.
“What transfers?”
“Mrs. Collins's pension deposits were moved into an account controlled by you. Utility bills were then paid from a separate account belonging to the Collins Trust.”
Margaret looked at Daniel.
“You told me my pension barely covered groceries.”
Daniel's face hardened.
“I managed the money for the household.”
Michael swiped across the screen.
“Over seven years, approximately one hundred and eighty-four thousand dollars was withdrawn.”
Linda stopped crying.
Edward leaned forward.
“Where did it go?”
Daniel said nothing.
Michael answered for him.
“Online gambling platforms, luxury purchases, private vacations, and payments to an unknown company called Northbridge Consulting.”
Margaret frowned.
She had never heard that name.
Daniel glanced toward Linda.
It lasted less than a second.
But Margaret saw it.
So did Michael.
Edward closed the folder.
“The property matter is now secondary. We may be dealing with financial exploitation, fraud, and possibly conspiracy.”
Daniel stepped backward.
“This is getting out of control.”
Margaret's voice remained soft.
“No, Daniel.”
She looked at the bruise reflected in the dark television screen.
“For the first time, it is finally under control.”
Outside, another vehicle stopped beside the curb.
May you like
This one was not black.
It was an unmarked police car.
