Chapter 16 - The Emergency Contact
Two days later, Nora received a call from Lily’s preschool.
A man claiming to be Lily’s uncle had attempted to add himself as an emergency contact.
The school administrator had refused because he could not provide the security password.
Nora’s hands trembled.
“Did he see Lily?”
“No. He never entered the classroom area.”
The school had saved security footage and a copy of the identification he presented.
The man was not Mason.
His name was Owen Price, a Meridian Crown security contractor.
Nora contacted the police and gave them Priya’s evidence file.
An officer interviewed Owen that evening. He claimed Mason had asked him to deliver guardianship documents to the school.
The documents declared that Nora was undergoing medical treatment and had temporarily surrendered decision-making authority over Lily.
The statement was false.
Priya sought an emergency protective order while Nora changed every school authorization, medical password, and security code connected to her daughter.
That night, Lily sat on the kitchen counter while Nora prepared dinner.
“Mommy, why are there new locks?”
Nora paused.
“Because our home is important.”
“Because it’s big?”
“No.”
“Because it’s pretty?”
Nora kissed Lily’s forehead.
“Because you are inside it.”
After Lily fell asleep, Nora returned to Ethan’s evidence files.
One folder contained payment records linking Mason to several Meridian executives.
Another contained a list of families who had sold their properties after receiving threatening legal notices.
Nora recognized some of the names.
Elderly neighbors.
A recently divorced teacher.
A couple caring for a disabled adult son.
Meridian had deliberately targeted people it believed could not afford to fight back.
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Nora understood then that protecting Lily’s home would not be enough.
She had to expose the entire operation.
