Chapter 11 - NINETY-FOUR THOUSAND
Ninety-four thousand dollars became the number everybody hated.
Allison because it was less than she had believed.
Judith because it was more than zero.
Daniel because it had followed his house through eighteen years of family silence.
The accountant refused to treat Richard's statement as final.
Good.
One man talking on a hidden camera was evidence.
Not a complete accounting.
Bank records showed:
$186,000 originally transferred from the Mercer custodial account into Richard-controlled household accounts.
Then:
$92,000 later restored or spent through clearly identifiable Allison-specific accounts.
Remaining:
$94,000.
That matched Richard's video.
Then credits.
The 2009 settlement possibly offset between $24,200 and $69,200 depending on interpretation.
Later payments could reduce more.
Some looked like gifts.
Some were labeled:
Mercer equalization.
Others:
Dad help.
Richard had been precise only when precision was least convenient.
After three weeks, the independent accountant produced a provisional range.
Unresolved amount:
$41,800 to $72,600.
Plus potential interest depending on legal characterization.
Allison stared at it.
“My mother left more than that.”
“Yes.”
Her attorney said.
“But you also received substantial support.”
Allison looked angry.
Then tired.
“Fine.”
Daniel asked:
“Fine what?”
“Fine, I was wrong about the amount.”
No dramatic refusal.
Judith said:
“You said the house was bought with your money.”
Allison looked at her.
“I said some of it was.”
“You told Daniel—”
“I was angry.”
Judith laughed.
“Apparently that excuses everything now.”
Allison's face hardened.
“No.”
Then she looked toward Claire.
“That's the point, isn't it?”
Claire said nothing.
Allison continued.
“I entered your house. I recorded you. I frightened Noah.”
“Yes.”
“I wanted to force Daniel to look.”
“Yes.”
“And I had documents I could've taken to a lawyer first.”
“Yes.”
Allison nodded.
“Then that's mine.”
Good.
The local prosecutor ultimately did not file a felony surveillance charge immediately.
State law and device configuration made some questions technical.
Police did issue a trespass warning.
Allison signed a civil agreement:
No entry.
No remote access.
No direct contact with Noah.
All communication about the archive through counsel for six months.
The miniature camera remained evidence.
The old hidden cameras were removed one by one.
Daniel watched holes appear in the walls.
Claire did not feel sorry.
Then Daniel's own betrayal had to be handled.
Not inheritance.
The hug.
The secrecy.
The shove in the opening confrontation.
Claire had slapped him first.
That did not make his shove automatically acceptable.
They sat with a marriage counselor.
Claire said:
“I hit you because I decided what the video meant before you spoke.”
Daniel nodded.
“Yes.”
“I threw the basket at you.”
“Yes.”
“I am sorry.”
Daniel looked at her.
“I shoved you because I cared more about stopping the video than slowing us down.”
Claire nodded.
“Yes.”
“I am sorry.”
No scorekeeping.
Then Claire added:
“You still hid Allison.”
“I know.”
“That part isn't confusion.”
“No.”
Daniel looked at the removed camera hole above the sofa.
“I thought keeping one strange thing to myself for three days would make life easier.”
Claire almost laughed.
“Your family should put that on a crest.”
Daniel did laugh.
Once.
May you like
Then stopped.
Because it was too close.
