PART 7 — The Recording They Had Not Posted

Richard’s written demand arrived through the channel Ellen had asked him to use.

He wanted information about Maya’s finances and access to money he described as household resources.

By then he knew there had been an estate inquiry.

He did not know the confirmed distribution or the terms that governed it.

Maya read the demand at Claire’s table while Lily arranged crayons by length.

Ellen had told her not to respond line by line in anger.