Chapter 8 - The School Visit

Sarah did not sleep.

At 7:30 the next morning, she stood outside Lily's private school with Helen Ward, Daniel, and the head administrator.

Lily remained with Margaret.

The principal, Dr. Morris, looked horrified.

"Mrs. Bennett, I was not told about this."

The receptionist was brought in.

She recognized Vanessa immediately.

"She said she was authorized by Mr. Bennett. She asked for Lily's pickup schedule and classroom location."

Sarah's voice went cold. "Did you give it to her?"

"No. Our system flagged her because she wasn't on the approved list."

"Then why did Lily see her?"

The receptionist swallowed.

"She waited near the courtyard fence during recess."

Helen asked for security footage.

The video showed Vanessa standing outside the fence, smiling and waving Lily over.

Lily approached but stayed inside the locked gate.

There was no audio.

Then Vanessa held up a photograph.

Lily's face changed.

She backed away.

Sarah leaned closer to the monitor.

"Can you zoom in?"

The photograph showed Sarah leaving a hotel.

A man walked beside her.

Daniel frowned. "That's not Mark."

Sarah recognized him.

"That's Evan Ross."

The auditor.

Helen looked at her. "Why were you at a hotel with him?"

"I wasn't. I've never met him in person."

The image had been manipulated.

A fake affair.

A fake breakdown.

Fake medication.

Sarah's life was being rewritten one piece at a time.

Dr. Morris turned off the monitor.

"We'll provide copies to your attorney and the police."

As they left, Helen said, "They expected you to be isolated. Ashamed. Defensive. They expected you to react instead of investigate."

Sarah looked at her.

"Then they picked the wrong woman."

Her phone rang.

Unknown number.

She answered.

A man spoke quickly.

"Mrs. Bennett, it's Evan. I can't stay on long. Mark knows I've been helping you."

"Where are you?"

"Not safe. Listen carefully. The ledger is only half of it. The missing money didn't go to Vanessa."

Sarah stopped walking.

"Where did it go?"

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"To someone with your last name."

The call ended.