He had never been charged with stealing children.
But complaints existed.
Money moved through several “consulting” entities attached to an adoption facilitator named Caleb Morris.
Morris had died three years earlier.
One of his old business accounts had received exactly $24,000 during the week Lucas left the hospital.
Two days later, $18,000 moved from that account to a company called Cole Venture Services.
Adrian’s company.
I stared at the bank record.
“No.”
Dana said nothing.
“No.”
The company had failed shortly after Noah was born.
Adrian always told me we had survived that period because his father loaned us money.
His father had died before I could ever ask.
There had been medical bills.
Credit-card debt.
A failed restaurant investment.
I knew we had struggled.
I had not known how badly.
Dana touched my wrist.
“Claire.”
I looked at her.
“I want to confront him.”
“Not yet.”
That was the hardest advice I ever followed.
