Chapter 5
Mila remembered more than anyone wanted her to.
Not because adults questioned her repeatedly.
Rebecca insisted they stop.
A child specialist interviewed her once.
After that, the adults worked from documents.
But Mila volunteered something while drawing in Sienna’s hospital room.
“Grandma said Daddy shouldn't tell Mom about the paper because she gets bossy.”
Sienna looked over.
Nico almost spoke.
Rebecca stopped him with one glance.
The child specialist asked gently:
“When did you hear that?”
“At Grandma’s house.”
“Long ago?”
Mila shrugged.
“Before baby room got painted.”
That placed it at least two months earlier.
“What paper?”
“The old one.”
“Anything else?”
Mila drew another window.
“Grandma said Mom’s going to be tired when baby comes.”
Sienna closed her eyes.
The specialist moved on.
No more questions.
Later Rebecca said:
“Do not make Mila your witness.”
Sienna nodded.
“I know.”
“You know now.”
That hurt.
Because Mila had already been placed in the middle once.
By Gavin.
Sienna looked at the recording phone sitting inside an evidence bag.
The device had helped expose something.
It did not mean a seven-year-old should become responsible for proving adult misconduct.
Daniel found independent confirmation.
Marjorie had called the refinancing bank twice.
The banker kept notes.
On the first call, she asked whether an attorney-in-fact could sign owner consents if the principal was “medically unavailable due to childbirth.”
The banker said yes, if the power remained valid and covered the transaction.
On the second call, she asked whether the principal needed to be notified before closing.
The banker replied that notification requirements depended on the power, bank policy, and any contrary instruction from the principal.
Marjorie said:
“She won’t be reachable.”
Sienna stared at the note.
“I was reachable.”
Rebecca nodded.
“They were creating an assumption.”
Second clue.
Not that Sienna legally could not object.
That she would not object because everyone expected a woman in labor to have more important things on her mind.
Nico’s anger became quieter.
That was when Sienna worried about him most.
“Dad.”
“I’m sitting.”
“Stay sitting.”
“I am.”
“Mentally too.”
Nico gave her a look.
She did not smile.
May you like
This time he understood.
The investigation had to survive him.
