A customer service representative at the nursing agency confirmed that someone using Chloe’s email address had requested a quote but never signed an agreement or paid a deposit.

“She sent me an invoice,” I said.

Julian examined it.

“This isn’t an invoice from the agency.

It has her personal payment reference attached.”
My stomach tightened.

I remembered wiring money directly to the account Chloe supplied after she complained that the agency’s system was down.

Maya looked at the paperwork and said, very quietly, “Your sister told me the nurse had canceled because I was rude to her.”
The invented explanation had done two jobs: it hid the missing nurse and made Maya feel responsible for the lack of care.

I wanted to call Chloe and demand that she repeat the lie while I recorded her.