Miriam reported the encounter without claiming it was connected to the documents. Police took a description and advised her to keep records of any further incidents. Priya offered to arrange a secure location for an interview with investigators. Nobody wanted a frightened witness to disappear into speculation. The case was growing into a maze of competing stories, and the most useful people were often those who admitted exactly what they did not know.
The forensic accountant, Olivia Chen, began tracing the suspicious transfers. She discovered that Oak Bridge funds had passed through two accounts before paying expenses for Project Willow's marketing campaign. The transactions suggested a connection to the hotel development, but not necessarily to every person whose name appeared on a presentation. Olivia insisted on following the bank statements rather than building a story around the most disliked executive. Her caution frustrated Hannah and reassured her at the same time.
Daniel agreed to provide financial records from his brokerage. He had received a legitimate consulting fee for early site analysis, but no payment from Oak Bridge. That distinguished him from the suspicious flow of money without absolving his role in promoting a deal that could have hurt Lucy's trust. He also turned over a message in which Celeste had asked him to keep Hannah "out of the process until the papers are settled." He had replied with a thumbs-up symbol. Seeing the casual answer again made him sick.
On Thursday a family court judge reviewed the emergency custody concerns. The hearing was limited and private. Priya presented the school application, the disputed consent, and the parents' temporary agreement. Daniel acknowledged his mistakes and supported Hannah's request that Lucy remain primarily with her while the matter was investigated. The judge ordered that neither parent could change Lucy's school or residential arrangements without proper authorization and directed them toward appropriate counseling. The judge did not decide who had forged the papers; that question belonged elsewhere.
At night Lucy chose books with gentle endings. Hannah noticed and let her read them twice. Hannah knew that promises required action, not appearances.
Hannah left court without a triumphant speech. She was relieved, and she was tired, and she still had to pick Lucy up from first grade before three. At the school gate Lucy ran toward her carrying a drawing of three people at a picnic. Hannah, Lucy, and Daniel sat beneath a tree in the picture, with no bride and no mansion. "Is Daddy still my daddy?" Lucy asked. "Always," Hannah said. She would not make an enemy out of a father the child still loved. That night Daniel received a formal notice from a prosecutor's office seeking an interview about Project Willow.