Chapter 7 - The Attorney's LieDaniel sat down.

For the first time since Mark had known him, the attorney looked exhausted.

"Six months before Eleanor died, she asked me to change the trust."

Mark stared.

"You said the amendment was forged."

"The later one was."

"What about the first?"

Daniel opened his briefcase.

"I made it."

Mark's voice sharpened.

"Why?"

"Because Eleanor instructed me to."

"Then explain."

Daniel slid a document across the table.

The trust had been changed.

Lily remained the primary beneficiary.

But the guardian clause had been altered.

It named Maria as temporary guardian.

Mark looked confused.

"Why would Eleanor do that?"

"Because she believed someone in the household was trying to poison you."

Mark stood abruptly.

"What?"

Daniel continued.

"She believed someone was giving you medication that was not prescribed."

Maria covered her mouth.

Victoria's name immediately came to Mark's mind.

Daniel nodded.

"Eleanor suspected Victoria."

"So why didn't you tell me?"

"Because Eleanor told me not to."

"She was afraid."

"She was planning to leave the marriage."

Mark stared at him.

"Why?"

Daniel looked toward Lily.

"She believed Victoria was not acting alone."

Mark's phone buzzed.

A bank alert.

Someone had attempted to transfer funds from the trust.

The amount was enormous.

The transaction had been initiated minutes earlier.

Mark grabbed Daniel's laptop.

"Can we stop it?"

"Not remotely."

"Then what do we do?"

Daniel looked at the authorization field.

The request had been submitted using Mark's digital credentials.

Mark whispered:

"Someone cloned my identity."

Maria stepped back.

The mansion doors suddenly opened.

Police officers entered.

"Mr. Hale, we need you to come with us."

Mark looked confused.

"Why?"

The officer held up a warrant.

"You are being investigated for fraud and attempted theft from your daughter's trust."

Lily screamed.

"No!"

Mark stared at the document.

It showed his name.

His signature.

His account.

And a transfer authorization.

Everything pointed toward him.

Daniel whispered:

"This is exactly what Eleanor feared."

Mark turned toward the officer.

"This is fabricated."

"We'll determine that at the station."

Lily clung to his jacket.

"Daddy, don't leave me."

Mark knelt.

"I'll come back."

The officer placed handcuffs around Mark's wrists.

Then a voice came from the doorway.

Victoria.

She stepped inside wearing a black coat.

Calm.

Perfectly composed.

She looked at Mark.

"I warned you."

Mark's eyes burned.

"You did this."

Victoria smiled.

"No."

She glanced at the officers.

"They did."

Daniel looked horrified.

"Victoria, what have you done?"

She reached into her handbag.

"I brought evidence."

She removed a phone.

A recording began playing.

Mark heard his own voice.

"Transfer the money."

He froze.

Lily stared at him.

"But Daddy..."

Mark looked at the phone.

The recording sounded completely real.

His own voice.

His own words.

But he had never said them.

Victoria quietly whispered:

"Now tell them I'm the liar."

Mark was led away.

As the front door closed behind him, Lily remained in the hallway.

Victoria knelt beside her.

"You see?"

Lily stepped backward.

"Daddy wouldn't do that."

Victoria smiled.

"Then perhaps you should ask your mother."

Lily looked confused.

"My mother is dead."

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Victoria's smile disappeared.

"Not exactly."