June's File

Mara Kline had notarized Vivian's last trust amendment.

That fact did not arrive as a revelation. It arrived as a clerk's record in the county database, plain and boring and sharp enough to cut the whole case open.

Roslyn read it twice at Greta's dining table. "If Mara is dirty, the trust amendment can be attacked."

Elise knew what that meant. Her claim to HartLine could vanish even if she proved she was alive. Martin did not need to win forever. He needed to make everything uncertain until the thirty-day clock ran out.

Theo closed his laptop. "Mara also notarized three beneficiary changes tied to the foundation."

"Robert Sloane?" Greta asked.

"Yes."

Greta's face did not move. Her hand tightened around her teacup until Elise worried it would break.

Ruby stood by the window, staying close to exits. "Mara told me Vivian was helping me. She gave me the passport copy."

"Did Vivian know?" Elise asked.

"I thought so."

That was how the fraud kept winning. Every person had been told just enough truth to step into the lie.

Elise's phone buzzed. Claire.

"Where are you?" Claire asked when Elise answered.

"With Greta Sloane."

Silence.

"Claire?"

"Come back to the police station."

"Why?"

Claire's breathing hitched. "Martin filed for emergency trusteeship. He says your appearance is a coordinated fraud, Theo is under bank investigation, Adam is compromised by lenders, and I am emotionally unstable after the fire."

"He is trying to isolate the trust."

"No," Claire whispered. "He is trying to isolate June."

Elise stood. "Where is she?"

"In the station interview room. A woman from child services just arrived with paperwork."

Roslyn was already moving toward the door.

Claire's voice broke. "Elise, the paperwork says June is not legally mine."

The call stayed open, full of Claire's breath and June crying in the background.