Chapter 17 - The Confession Behind the Locked Door
Margaret Moretti was arrested at 6:42 the following morning.
Wisconsin authorities had obtained judicial authorization to search her isolated lakeside property after investigators connected it to the threatening messages and the evidence recovered from the mansion.
Evelyn Cross was not there.
Her bedroom had been emptied.
A closet contained several unused suitcases.
The garage held an abandoned rental-car agreement.
But Margaret remained.
She was sitting in an expensive silk robe when officers entered.
According to Rachel, she demanded to know which judge had authorized the search before asking why she was being detained.
That sounded exactly like the woman I remembered.
Even cornered, Margaret believed the world owed her deference.
Investigators brought her to Chicago for questioning after the necessary legal arrangements.
Rachel asked whether I wanted to observe through a secure video feed.
I hesitated.
Julian sat beside me.
"You don't have to."
"I know."
But some truths needed to be heard, even when they hurt.
Margaret appeared on the monitor wearing a gray sweater and a familiar expression of contempt.
Her attorney sat beside her.
Rachel began with the financial records.
Margaret dismissed them as ordinary family business.
Then Rachel showed her the photograph of Lily and the prescription bottle.
For the first time, Margaret's expression changed.
"Where did you get that?"
"Do you recognize it?"
"I recognize my granddaughter."
"And the bottle?"
Margaret leaned back.
"I don't remember."
Rachel displayed the hospital authorization signed in Vincent's name.
"Why did Northstar Clinical Advisory Services request access to Lily's records?"
Margaret's eyes narrowed.
"Ask my son."
"We have."
"Then perhaps you should believe him."
Rachel remained calm.
"Your former employee, Evelyn Cross, lived at your property for several months. Where is she now?"
Margaret's mouth tightened.
"I employ many people."
"Where is Evelyn?"
"I don't know."
Rachel placed another document on the table.
A series of monthly transfers from Margaret's private account to a company controlled by Evelyn.
The payments had continued for nearly four years.
Margaret stopped moving.
Her attorney leaned toward her.
For several seconds, they whispered.
Then Margaret said something that made my blood freeze.
"Evelyn was supposed to keep the child comfortable."
Rachel's posture changed.
"What do you mean by comfortable?"
Margaret stared at the table.
"She was always anxious. Lily. Every time her father left the house, she would start asking when he was coming home."
My hands curled into fists.
Margaret continued.
"Andrew prescribed something to help with the episodes."
Julian leaned forward.
"Prescribed what?"
Rachel asked the same question.
Margaret shook her head.
"I didn't handle the details."
"But you authorized the arrangement?"
"I approved additional medical support."
"For a six-year-old child?"
Margaret's eyes flashed.
"She was a Moretti. Her health reflected on the entire family."
A wave of disgust rose inside me.
Even now, she spoke about Lily as if she had been a family investment.
Rachel continued.
"Did Claire know about this additional treatment?"
Margaret looked away.
"Claire was emotional. She questioned everything."
I nearly stood.
Julian held my hand.
"Let her talk," he whispered.
Rachel leaned closer to Margaret.
"Did you conceal medication from Lily's mother?"
Margaret's attorney interrupted.
"My client will not answer that question."
Rachel nodded and moved to another document.
"This transfer was approved forty-eight hours before Lily's final hospitalization. The recipient was Northstar Clinical Advisory Services."
Margaret stared at it.
"That wasn't for Lily."
"What was it for?"
No answer.
Rachel produced a second transfer.
"Then explain why it was categorized under her patient file."
Margaret closed her eyes.
And suddenly, she looked old.
Terribly old.
"Jonathan said it was the only way."
"The only way to do what?"
"Protect Vincent."
Rachel waited.
Finally, Margaret whispered, "If Price exposed the financial records, the government would seize everything. He said he needed medical consulting contracts to hide the transfers."
I felt my heart pound.
Lily's medical history had been used as camouflage for money laundering.
Rachel continued.
"Did Jonathan Price ask anyone to alter Lily's care?"
Margaret's expression hardened again.
"No."
"Did Evelyn?"
"I don't know."
Rachel studied her.
"Then why did you pay Evelyn to disappear?"
Margaret said nothing.
The silence continued until her attorney ended the interview.
I rose from my chair, shaking.
There were still no answers about exactly what had happened to Lily.
Only evidence of lies.
Concealment.
Financial crimes.
And adults who had treated a vulnerable child's medical records as a convenient hiding place.
Then Rachel's telephone rang.
She answered and listened.
Her expression turned grave.
When she hung up, she looked directly at me.
"Andrew Keller has been found alive."
I felt relief rush through me.
"Where?"
"In an abandoned commercial building outside Joliet."
"Can he talk?"
Rachel hesitated.
"He has injuries, but doctors believe he'll recover."
I waited.
"Claire, before the ambulance arrived, he gave investigators one name."
I gripped Julian's hand.
"Whose?"
Rachel swallowed.
"Evelyn Cross."
May you like
Then she added something worse.
"He said Evelyn was the person who instructed him to cancel the toxicology test."
