Sarah was at the hospital within the hour.

She set the filing on the bedside table and let Genevieve read it herself.

Genevieve read the signature twice.

"Dr.

Harmon."

"Yes."

"He delivered my mother's care for the last two years of her life.

I referred him to Julian when Julian said he needed a new GP." She set the paper down.

"I introduced them."

"I know."

"How long has Julian had him?"

"I don't know yet.

But Dr.

Harmon's practice received a significant private grant fourteen months ago.

The grant came through a foundation.

The foundation's registered address is a building Julian's company owns."

Genevieve looked at the ceiling.

"He built this over years," she said.

"Not months.

Years."

"Yes."

"He was planning to leave me.

Or to take everything.

Before we were even married, maybe."

"I can't say that yet.

But the pattern is consistent with someone who was always looking for an exit that cost him nothing." Sarah pulled her chair closer.

"Genevieve, I need to tell you something before we go any further.

The second evaluation changes the weight of the filing.

A judge may look at two signed evaluations and grant a temporary order while the full hearing is scheduled.

That could mean—"

"Temporary removal."

"Temporary.

While we challenge both documents.

It would not be permanent.

But it could happen in the next twenty-four hours."

The baby made a sound.

Genevieve turned to look at her.

"Then we move faster," Genevieve said.

"I'm already working on Dr.

Harmon.

If the grant is traceable to Julian, that's direct financial inducement to falsify a medical document.

That's not a civil matter.

That's crjminal." Sarah's voice was steady.

"I've also contacted the medical board.

They're pulling his records."

A knock at the door.

A man Genevieve didn't recognize stepped in.

Mid-fifties.

Careful posture.

He looked at Sarah first, then at Genevieve.

"Ms.

Mercer," he said.

"My name is Robert Ashby.

I'm a detective with the financial crjmes unit." He held up his credentials.

"We've been investigating Julian Mercer's company for the past seven months.

I understand you may have information relevant to our case."

Sarah was on her feet.

"Detective, my client is two days postpartum in a hospital bed—"

"I know.

I'm sorry for the timing.

I wouldn't be here if it weren't urgent." He looked at Genevieve.

"His attorney filed this morning.

We believe the filing is an attempt to liquidate and move assets before a warrant we've been preparing is executed." He paused.

"If he gains financial control of your accounts through a competency order, he can drain them before we freeze his holdings.

We're talking about a significant sum."

"My mother's money," Genevieve said.

"Yes.

And funds from at least four other individuals his company defrauded over the past three years." He sat down without being invited.

"Ms.

Mercer, I need to know everything you know.

Starting from the beginning."

Sarah looked at Genevieve.

Genevieve looked at her daughter.

Then she looked at Detective Ashby.

"Close the door," she said.

"And sit down properly.

This is going to take a while."

She told him everything.

The proxy document.

The kitchen table.

The notary Julian had brought to the house.

The wellness check that became a psychiatric evaluation.

The investor who turned out to be Julian's CFO.

Dr.

Harmon's signature.

The envelope in the hospital room.

Ashby wrote without stopping.

When she finished, he looked up.

"The recording you made yesterday.

We'll need a copy."

"You'll have it," Sarah said.

"And the power of attorney document."

"Already in my files."

He stood.

"We're moving on the warrant today.

It's possible Julian's attorney doesn't know that yet." He looked at Genevieve.

"The custody filing may be his last attempt to get to your assets before we lock everything down.

If we execute the warrant before the emergency hearing, it changes the picture significantly."

"How significantly?" Genevieve asked.

"A man under active financial fraud investigation, attempting to gain control of a vulnerable woman's assets through a falsified psychiatric evaluation, while his own company is being seized—" Ashby put his notebook away.

"No family court judge in this state is granting him emergency custody in that context."

He moved to the door.

"Ms.

Mercer," he said, turning back.

"I'm sorry this happened to you.

I'm sorry we didn't move faster."

He left.

The room was quiet.

"It's moving," Sarah said.

"Everything is moving now."

"Will he run?" Genevieve asked.

"When he finds out about the warrant?"

"He might try."

"Can you stop him?"

"I can't.

But Detective Ashby can." Sarah picked up her phone.

"I'm going to make sure he knows that's a possibility."

She stepped into the hallway.

Genevieve reached into the bassinet and touched her daughter's hand.

The baby's fingers curled.

The same reflex as yesterday.

The same small certainty.

Her phone lit up again.

The same unknown number from the night before.

*He knows about the warrant.

He's leaving tonight.

Airport.

Tell your detective.*

Genevieve didn't hesitate.

She called Sarah back before she had even reached the end of the hallway.