Mara did not raise her voice.
“The transfer request was initiated using Claire’s private access credentials.
It was directed to an account opened twelve days ago in Ethan’s name.”
The street went quiet.
Even through the security monitor, I could hear the luggage van idling behind them.
Ethan removed his sunglasses.
“You can’t prove I initiated anything.”
Mara turned another page.
“The request came from your laptop.”
His eyes flickered.
“That proves nothing.
We share a home.”
“The device was authenticated using facial recognition.”
He recovered quickly.
“Claire must have approved it.”
I pressed the intercom button.
My voice came through the speaker built into the gate pillar.
“No, Ethan.
I didn’t.”
Everyone turned toward the camera.
Ethan’s mother stepped closer to the gate.
“Claire, open this immediately.
We have been traveling since dawn.”
I looked at the stacked suitcases in Ethan’s SUV.
There were too many for a visit.
A folded wheelchair was strapped beside several boxes.
Lily had brought framed photographs, a desktop computer, and what looked like a jewelry case.
They had believed they were moving into my home permanently.
“I’m sorry you traveled under false pretenses,” I said.
“Ethan did not have permission to invite anyone to live here.”
His mother’s mouth fell open.
“He said this was his house.”
“He lied.”
Ethan walked to the keypad and jabbed the call button.
“Claire, stop performing.
Open the gate so we can discuss this inside.”
“We discussed it yesterday.”
“No, you stood there pretending not to understand the law.”
“I understood it well enough to call my lawyer.”
His father shut the SUV door slowly.
“Son, did you take money from her?”
Ethan turned on him.
“I moved family money.”
“Into your own account?”
“It was for all of us.”
Lily climbed out with her phone still in her hand.
“You told me Claire gave you two hundred thousand dollars to help me restart after the divorce.”
Ethan stared at her.
“That was the plan.”
“You told me the money had already cleared.”
“It will.”
Mara closed the folder.
“No, it will not.”
Ethan struck the gate with the side of his fist.
“Claire!”
The impact echoed through the driveway.
