Chapter 4 - The Paper Trail of Deceit
Within an hour, our house was filled with red and blue flashing lights. Detectives, child protective services, and forensic units swarmed the property. Leading the investigation was Detective Marcus Vance—no relation to Neil—a stern-faced man whose eyes softened the moment he saw Grace wrapped in a blanket on our sofa, sipping hot cocoa.
"Mrs. Vance, we've flagged your husband's vehicle and put out an APB," Detective Vance told me, pulling up a chair opposite the kitchen table where I sat. "But we need to understand how this happened. How does a child get declared dead without anyone noticing?"
"Neil handled everything," I explained, my hands trembling as I held a warm mug. "He was a high-ranking executive at a medical logistics firm. He had connections with doctors, transport services, and hospital administration. When the accident happened, Grace was taken to St. Jude’s Memorial. Neil told me the doctors wouldn't let me see her because the trauma was too severe. He said her face was... he said she didn't look like herself anymore. He brought me papers to sign. I was so heavily sedated, so broken by grief... I signed whatever he put in front of me."
"We've already contacted St. Jude’s," Detective Vance said, scratching his chin. "According to their records, Grace Vance was indeed admitted, but she was discharged three days later into the custody of her father. The death certificate we have on file? It’s a forgery. A highly sophisticated one, but a forgery nonetheless. The funeral home was paid in cash, and the casket was delivered sealed. Neil claimed it was due to biohazard concerns from her alleged injuries. No one questioned it because he paid triple the standard rate."
"He bought her," I whispered, the realization hitting me like a physical blow. "He bought her life and sold me a lie. Why? Why would a father do that to his own wife and daughter?"
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"We're looking into his financial records," the detective replied. "It seems your husband was deeply in debt to some very unsavory people. But there's more. We found a life insurance policy. A policy on Grace, taken out six months before the 'accident.' He collected two million dollars on her death."
I felt sick. My husband hadn't just lied to me. He had monetized our daughter’s life to pay off his debts and fund his secret, dark double life.
