Part 2: My aunt wanted to adopt my little sister after our parents d*ed just to get her hands on the money — she had no idea I had one more card to play.

I’d been crying.

My parents had been dead twenty-two days.

Apparently grief was evidence.

Kessler had dismissed Vicky’s complaints about Denise.

He had approved extended weekend visits.

He had recommended the guardianship petition receive “serious consideration.”

I whispered his name.

Ruiz didn’t answer.

That was answer enough.

Kessler was arrested the next morning.

Not for murder.

Not yet.

For obstruction, bribery, evidence tampering, and conspiracy to commit fraud.

The news exploded.

Reporters surrounded the child-services office.

Former employees came forward.

Then families.

Dozens of them.

People who claimed Kessler had influenced custody cases for wealthy clients.

Favored relatives who paid private “consulting fees.”

Buried complaints.

Altered reports.

Ruiz discovered Howard had transferred him $46,000 through a shell company.

Suddenly every door opened.

Howard’s messages.

Kessler’s accounts.

Deleted emails.

Security footage.

And finally, the truth.

Or most of it.

Howard had been stealing money for years.

When my father discovered the ledger, Howard panicked.