“He wanted updates. Screenshots. He helped her make the messages look like they came from Lucas.”
Captain Ruiz leaned forward.
“Was he military?”
“He said he was.”
“Branch?”
“I don’t know.”
“Rank?”
“I don’t know.”
Harris looked unimpressed.
“You expect us to believe a mysterious military man helped your daughter abuse your daughter-in-law for no reason?”
Eleanor’s face hardened.
“I did not say no reason.”
Naomi paused the video again.
I knew before she said it.
Money.
It was always money, power, or revenge.
Sometimes all three.
The recording resumed.
Detective Harris asked, “What reason?”
Eleanor looked at the table.
“He said Lucas was being considered for a trust expansion. Some death benefit structure. He said if Sophia looked unstable, control of the family assets could be challenged.”
That sentence landed like a boot to the chest.
Naomi stopped the video.
“There is no death benefit structure that works that way,” she said.
