Daniel had apparently told Vanessa I had been “a bookkeeper.”
Perhaps that was easier than admitting his mother had once testified before a state senate committee.
Judge Mercer slowly looked back at the photographs of my injuries.
Then at Daniel.
Then at me.
“Mrs. Vance,” he said, “are you telling this court those injuries were not caused by falls?”
I reached inside my coat.
“No, Your Honor.”
For the first time, Vanessa looked frightened.
Because those photographs weren’t the only evidence I had brought.
And Daniel had forgotten something important about me.
I had spent half my life following money other people believed they had hidden.
PART 2 — THE RED NOTEBOOK
I removed a small red notebook from inside my coat.
Curtis Hale almost smiled.
“A diary?” he asked.
“No.”
I placed it on the table before me.
“It’s a ledger.”
That wiped the smile from his face.
Judge Mercer leaned forward.
“A ledger of what?”
“Every financial transaction connected to my son and daughter-in-law since my husband’s funeral.”
Daniel laughed.
It was too loud.
Too forced.
“Mom, this is exactly what we were talking about. Obsessive behavior.”
I looked at him.
“Then you shouldn’t mind if the judge sees it.”
