Chapter 3
Richard canceled the birthday dinner.
That created more outrage than the fight.
Relatives had flown in from Chicago, New York, and Nevada. A chef had prepared dinner for forty people. A string quartet had been booked.
Richard sent everyone home.
No explanations.
No photographs.
No family statements.
The next morning, Miriam Shaw flew in from Chicago.
She handled Bellacorte family matters because she was one of the few attorneys Richard trusted to tell him when he was making a mistake.
“You cannot simply keep Noah,” she said.
Richard sat across from her in the lodge library.
“Did you see his feet?”
“Yes.”
“His clothes?”
“Yes.”
“Then what are we discussing?”
“The law.”
Richard leaned back.
Miriam continued.
“Mark is his father. Claudia is his stepmother. Unless a court or child-welfare agency imposes restrictions, you don’t become the parent because you’re the responsible adult in the room.”
Mark had agreed that Noah could sleep in Richard’s suite for two nights.
Miriam found that interesting.
“So quickly?”
“He said everyone needed space.”
“Parents under accusation usually become territorial.”
Richard looked at her.
“You think he wanted Noah away from him?”
“I think we don’t know enough yet.”
They did know one thing.
Noah’s pediatric records did not match the story Richard had been told.
Miriam obtained written authorization from Mark to contact providers associated with expenses Richard’s family office had reimbursed.
The private preschool confirmed Noah had been withdrawn seven weeks earlier.
The director said the parents had given no medical reason.
A developmental therapy center listed on multiple reimbursement requests had no patient named Noah Bellacorte.
Richard stared at the statement.
“How much did I pay them?”
His accountant, Paul Dwyer, checked the spreadsheet.
“About seventy-eight thousand dollars over ten months.”
“For a three-year-old who never went there.”
“Apparently.”
Richard felt stupid.
That was worse than feeling angry.
After Noah’s mother Emily died eighteen months earlier, Richard had promised himself he would never make Mark ask twice for anything the boy needed.
So Mark learned not to expect questions.
Richard approved money.
Mark provided invoices.
Everyone called it family support.
That afternoon, child-welfare investigators interviewed Mark and Claudia separately.
Richard was interviewed too.
They asked about the punch.
They asked about the slap.
Richard did not minimize either.
“I lost control.”
Miriam glanced at him but said nothing.
When the interview ended, she closed her notebook.
“Good.”
Richard looked at her.
“For what?”
“For not calling violence restraint.”
He did not enjoy hearing that.
Later, Noah sat beside the fireplace coloring.
Richard noticed every crayon was broken in half.
“Where’s your big box?”
Noah shrugged.
“At Daddy’s house.”
“Why didn’t you bring it?”
“Claudia said toys cost money.”
Richard looked toward Paul.
The accountant already understood.
“Pull every reimbursement labeled toys, clothing, school, therapy, and childcare.”
Paul nodded.
“How far back?”
May you like
Richard looked at Noah.
“Start the month Emily died.”
