Chapter 10: The Appointment Scheduled for My Sister
Dad read the medical authorization three times.
Each time, his expression became more frightening.
Maya stood beside him, holding the sleeve of his shirt.
“Dad, am I going somewhere?””
He immediately folded the document.
“No, sweetheart.””
“But Marcus said somebody arranged it.””
Dad crouched in front of her.
“Listen to me. Nobody is taking you anywhere without my permission. I promise.””
Maya nodded, but her fingers continued twisting the fabric of her uniform.
I looked at Marcus.
“What does the document actually authorize?””
He placed the photograph beneath the living room lamp.
“It gives the named representative temporary authority to make medical decisions for Maya.””
“Who is the representative?””
Marcus pointed to the bottom of the page.
Denise.
Dad stood abruptly.
“She isn't Maya's guardian.””
“Not yet,” Marcus replied.
“What does that mean?””
“The application we found earlier appears to be part of a larger arrangement. Someone was trying to obtain temporary guardianship through a medical emergency petition.””
I frowned.
“Why would they need an emergency petition?””
Marcus looked uncomfortable.
“Because ordinary guardianship proceedings take time. An emergency petition can move much faster if the applicant claims the child is at immediate risk.””
Dad stared at the document.
“What kind of risk?””
Marcus pointed to a paragraph.
“Psychological instability. Alleged neglect. Possible danger within the household.””
Dad read the paragraph.
Then he looked at Maya.
“They're saying I'm hurting her?””
Maya's eyes filled with tears.
“I don't want to leave you.””
Dad pulled her close.
“You aren't leaving me.””
I picked up the photograph.
“Where was this taken?””
Marcus examined the background.
“A private medical clinic.””
“Which one?””
He zoomed in on a small sign behind Denise.
“Westbridge Family Assessment Center.””
Dad grabbed his phone.
“I'm calling them.””
Marcus stopped him.
“Don't tell them everything yet. We need to know whether the appointment is real.””
Dad looked at him angrily.
“This is my daughter.””
“And if you call without knowing what you're dealing with, Denise may destroy the remaining evidence.””
Dad hesitated.
I hated that Marcus was right.
He took out his phone and called a number.
A woman answered.
“Westbridge Family Assessment Center. How may I help you?””
Marcus spoke calmly.
“I'm calling to verify an appointment for a minor named Maya Danielson.””
“Are you the parent or legal guardian?””
“No. I'm a family representative assisting Daniel Danielson.””
The woman asked for the appointment date.
Marcus checked the document.
“Tomorrow, at nine in the morning.””
The woman typed something.
“Yes, I see an appointment.””
Dad moved closer.
“Who scheduled it?””
“Mrs. Denise Danielson.””
“What's the purpose?””
The receptionist paused.
“I'm sorry, sir. I can't disclose confidential medical information.””
Marcus lowered his voice.
“Was the appointment requested as an emergency evaluation?””
Another pause.
“Yes.””
Dad closed his eyes.
The receptionist continued.
“The referring party indicated concerns regarding the child's emotional welfare and requested an expedited assessment.””
Dad took the phone.
“This is her father. I never authorized this appointment.””
The woman sounded startled.
“Mr. Danielson?””
“Yes.””
“I'm sorry, but the referral documents indicate that you were informed.””
“I wasn't.””
“Then I recommend contacting the clinic's legal department.””
Dad ended the call.
For a moment, the room was completely silent.
Then Maya asked a question that made my heart ache.
“Did I do something wrong because I cried about my bicycle?””
Dad turned toward her.
“No.””
“Did Brielle tell them I cry too much?””
Nobody answered.
Maya looked down.
“She told me last week that if I kept making problems, Dad would send me somewhere.””
I felt anger rise in my chest.
Dad held Maya's face gently.
“You are not a problem. You are my daughter. And nobody is sending you away.””
Marcus walked toward the window.
“There is something else.””
Dad looked at him.
“What?””
“The person who prepared the emergency petition also requested a psychological assessment using information from an earlier incident.””
“What incident?””
Marcus opened his folder.
“An incident at school.””
Maya frowned.
“I haven't been in trouble at school.””
“I know,” Marcus said.
“But the report claims you threatened to hurt yourself.””
Maya's eyes widened.
“I never said that!””
Dad immediately took the paper.
The report included a statement allegedly made by Maya's school counselor.
It described an emotional episode following a family argument.
At the bottom was the counselor's signature.
Dad stared at it.
“Mrs. Patterson.””
Maya shook her head.
“She's never said that about me.””
I recognized the name.
Mrs. Patterson was Maya's school counselor. She had called Dad once because Maya was having trouble adjusting after Mom died.
But that conversation had happened years ago.
Someone had apparently used it to create a false picture of Maya's mental health.
Dad called the school.
After several minutes, he put the phone on speaker.
“Mr. Danielson,” the principal said, “we're very concerned about this situation.””
Dad looked at the document.
“Did Mrs. Patterson write this report?””
“No. She says she never signed anything like that.””
Dad's expression hardened.
“Then how did her name get on it?””
“We don't know. But she has agreed to provide a written statement confirming that.””
I looked at Marcus.
He nodded.
The evidence was beginning to connect.
Then the principal said something unexpected.
“There's another matter. A woman came to the school yesterday asking for Maya's attendance records and emergency contact information.””
Dad tightened his grip on the phone.
“Who?””
“Denise Danielson.””
Dad closed his eyes.
“What did she tell you?””
“She claimed she was arranging a temporary educational placement for Maya.””
Maya looked confused.
“Educational placement?””
Dad ended the call.
Then he looked at Marcus.
“Where was she planning to take my daughter?””
Marcus opened his folder again.
This time, he pulled out a printed email.
The subject line read:
*Maya Danielson — Temporary Residential Placement.*
The recipient was a private residential facility two hours away.
Dad read the message.
His face became expressionless.
The email claimed that Maya's father had agreed to temporary placement while the family resolved a domestic dispute.
Dad looked at me.
“She's trying to send Maya away.””
I nodded.
“Why?””
Marcus answered quietly.
“Because Maya is the beneficiary of the trust. If Denise obtains control over her, she can access the remaining funds.””
Dad stared at the email.
“But the money is gone.””
Marcus shook his head.
“Not all of it.””
He placed a bank statement on the table.
There was a remaining balance of $146,000 in an investment account.
Dad looked at the number.
“Where did that come from?””
“Your wife's original trust included an insurance payout and several investments. Denise managed to move the smaller savings account, but she never gained access to this one.””
I stared at him.
“So she's doing all this for the remaining money?””
Marcus nodded.
“And there's a deadline.””
Dad looked at the document.
“What deadline?””
“Tomorrow. Maya's eighteenth-birthday trust review was scheduled to begin early, following a recent request to release the funds.””
Dad looked confused.
“Maya isn't eighteen.””
“Exactly. The only way Denise could access the money now would be through a court-approved guardianship arrangement.””
The front door suddenly opened.
Brielle walked in.
She looked at the papers scattered across the table.
Then she looked at Maya.
“What's happening?””
Dad turned toward her.
“Sit down.””
Brielle noticed the photograph.
Her face changed.
“Where did you get that?””
Maya stepped behind me.
Dad pointed to the medical authorization.
“Did your mother ask you to sign this?””
Brielle stared at the document.
Then she nodded.
“She said it was permission for Maya to get help.””
“Did you know she was trying to send Maya away?””
Brielle began shaking her head.
“No.””
Dad pushed another page toward her.
“Then explain why you signed a statement saying Maya was unsafe in this house.””
Brielle looked at the paper.
Her lips parted.
“I didn't write that.””
“But you signed it.””
Brielle started crying.
“Mom told me it was just a form. She said Maya needed a new school because she was having problems.””
Dad's voice became cold.
“Did she tell you about the money?””
Brielle looked at Maya.
Then she whispered:
“She said if I helped her, she'd finally tell me why my real father disappeared.””
Marcus stepped forward.
Brielle looked at him.
“I didn't know you were alive.””
Marcus nodded.
“I believe you.””
Brielle wiped her face.
Then she reached into her backpack.
“I have something else.””
She removed a small black notebook.
“I found this in Mom's car.””
Dad opened it.
The first page contained a list of dates, account numbers, and payment amounts.
But the last page had something much more disturbing.
A handwritten instruction:
*After Maya is transferred, destroy the original trust documents.*
Below it was another sentence.
*Richard must make sure Daniel never discovers what happened to Claire.*
Dad slowly raised his eyes.
“Richard?””
Brielle nodded.
“Mom spoke to him last night.””
Then she looked toward Marcus.
“He told her that if she didn't finish everything tomorrow, he'd tell the police what really happened to Claire.””
Marcus took the notebook.
May you like
His expression darkened.
“Then we have less time than I thought.””
