“Take your time,” I said.
“I don’t have time.”
The fear in her voice made me look up.
“What do you mean?”
“They’re sending me away tomorrow.”
“Where?”
“I don’t know. Chloe said a van is coming at nine.”
I felt something inside me harden.
“Did she name the facility?”
“She called it Willow something.”
“Willow Haven?”
Mother nodded.
I knew the name.
Willow Haven was a private memory-care facility nearly three hours away. It was expensive, isolated, and notorious among elder-law attorneys for making family visits difficult. Two years earlier, the state had investigated complaints that residents were being heavily sedated without adequate medical justification.
“Why are they sending you there?”
“Because I refused to sign another paper.”
“What paper?”
“They want to sell this house.”
The house had belonged to my parents for forty-six years. My father had restored every room himself. The oak staircase still carried a small dent where Julian and I had crashed a wooden wagon when we were children.
“Did you see the document?”
“Only the top page. It had the name of a company.”
“Do you remember it?”
Her brow tightened.
“Silver… Silver Crown.”
“Silver Crown Holdings?”
“Yes.”
I knew that name too.
Silver Crown Holdings was a shell company connected to several investigations involving distressed properties. It purchased homes from elderly owners at a fraction of their value, then resold them through hidden partnerships.
I photographed every bruise again, making sure the date and time were visible. Then I recorded the rope marks around her wrists from several angles.
Mother looked away.
“I must look terrible.”
“You look brave.”
“I don’t feel brave.”
“Most brave people don’t.”
A knock struck the bathroom door.
Three sharp taps.
Mother gasped and grabbed my arm.
“Elena?” Julian called. “Everything all right?”
I steadied my voice.
“She felt dizzy. I’m helping her.”
The handle moved.
I had locked it.
“Why is the door locked?”
“Because she’s bathing.”
Silence followed.
Then Chloe spoke from the hallway.
“She doesn’t need help bathing.”
Mother’s nails pressed into my wrist.
“I’m already here,” I replied. “We’ll be down shortly.”
Another silence.
I imagined Julian and Chloe exchanging a look outside the door.
Finally, Julian said, “Dinner is getting cold.”
Their footsteps retreated.
Mother whispered, “They know.”
“They suspect something.”
“They’ll punish me.”
“No.”
“They always do.”
