“Claire spent a lot of it, but she also bought other properties.”

“She used the trust funds to purchase commercial lots in the valley.”

“Those assets are still registered under her name, but they were bought with stolen money.”

“A forensic audit will prove that,” he added.

“A forensic audit?” Megan repeated.

“Yes,” Daniel said.

“The state will go through every transaction Claire made for the last thirty years.”

“They will trace every dollar from the day the trust was created.”

I looked around the room, at the high plaster ceilings and the built-in bookcases.

This house had been my sanctuary, the only place where I felt safe.

Now, every corner of it seemed to hold a secret drawer or a hidden ledger.

“I want it all gone,” I said.

“The secrets, the lies.”

“We will find them all,” Daniel said.

He stood up as another deputy entered the room.

“Ma’am, we need to take your phone,” the officer said.

“The recording you made of the suspect’s confession is key evidence.”

I took the phone out of my pocket and handed it to him.