“She keeps it in the closet,” Lauren said. “She only uses it when your mother visits.”

I felt a cold sweat break out on the back of my neck.

“I have the proof, Clara,” Lauren said. “I took photos. I have her real gym membership records under her alias.”

“Why are you telling me this now?” I asked.

“Because she threatened me,” Lauren said, her voice cracking. “She said if I told anyone, she would tell my employer I was stealing from the clinic.”

“Did she take my money?” I asked, my voice rising. “Twelve thousand dollars was just transferred to my mother’s account.”

“Your mother knows about the money, but she doesn’t know the truth about Megan,” Lauren said. “Megan told her she needed an experimental treatment in Switzerland.”

“And my mother just took it from me,” I said.

“I’m emailing you the folder now,” Lauren said. “It has the photos of her running in Grant Park last Tuesday.”

My phone buzzed in my hand, signaling an incoming email.

“I have to go, Clara,” Lauren said. “Please don’t tell her I called you.”