Chapter 5 - TOBY WAS PART OF THE PLAN
I wanted my son immediately.
Every lawyer told me to wait.
That was the hardest thing anyone asked me to do.
Chad believed I was still detained.
If we moved too early, he could disappear with Toby.
So federal investigators monitored the townhouse while Nina filed an emergency sealed custody motion based on newly discovered fraud evidence.
Then something unexpected happened.
Toby called Christopher’s office.
My six-year-old son knew Christopher only as “Mr. Chris,” an old family friend.
I had never told him Christopher was his grandfather.
The receptionist transferred the call.
Christopher put him on speaker.
“Mr. Chris?”
His tiny voice nearly broke me.
“Hello, Toby.”
“Is Mommy with you?”
Everyone went still.
Christopher looked at me.
“How did you know to call?”
Toby whispered:
“Grandma said Mommy went away because she stole money.”
My hands clenched.
“But Daddy said you made the money.”
Christopher remained calm.
“Where is your daddy?”
“Outside.”
“Where is Grandma?”
“In Mommy’s room.”
My room.
Then Toby said:
“They’re looking for the red book.”
Christopher’s face changed.
“What red book?”
“I don’t know.”
“Who told you?”
“Grandma.”
I leaned closer to the phone.
“Toby?”
Silence.
Then:
“Mommy?”
My heart shattered.
“Hi, baby.”
“You’re not in jail?”
“Not right now.”
“Daddy said you’re bad.”
“No.”
My voice almost failed.
“I’m not bad.”
He began crying.
So did I.
Then we heard a door open on his end.
Chad.
“Toby, who are you talking to?”
The line disconnected.
We moved immediately.
The custody order was expedited.
Sheriff’s deputies and federal agents went to the townhouse.
Chad was there.
Brenda was there.
My mother was gone.
So was the red book.
Toby came out wearing dinosaur pajamas and ran into my arms so hard I nearly fell.
I did not ask him questions that night.
He needed his mother.
Not an investigator.
Chad was detained for questioning on evidence tampering and financial-crime allegations.
He stared at me across the driveway.
“You think your father can save you?”
I held Toby.
“No.”
I looked at him.
“Your evidence is going to destroy you.”
For the first time, he looked uncertain.
Then he smiled.
“Ask your mother what’s in the red book.”
I said nothing.
His smile widened.
“Your father isn’t who you think.”
Then agents placed him in the car.
Toby tugged my sleeve.
“Mommy?”
“Yes?”
May you like
“Grandma told Daddy the red book proves Grandpa Christopher killed Grandpa Michael.”
Every adult near us became silent.
