Together, they were approaching a conclusion.
A few more “episodes” on video.
Marcus’s signature on the management agreement.
A formal recommendation that his supposedly disturbed daughter enter residential care.
Then the rider could potentially activate, giving a secondary trustee named Sarah managerial authority over the six-million-dollar estate while Lily was somewhere else.
From outside, it might have looked entirely legitimate.
A troubled child.
A devoted stepmother.
An overwhelmed father.
A sensible financial arrangement.
The scheme was disguised as concern.
And that was what made it dangerous.
Marcus realized that it might have been weeks from completion.
Perhaps days.
If Lily had waited longer to speak, if Marcus had boarded a later flight without noticing her fear, or if Victoria’s office had failed to flag the inquiry, the plan might have advanced before anyone thought to question it.
Lily’s warning had not simply been timely.
It might have come at the last possible moment.
