Chapter 5 - The Sister's Betrayal
While Derek stewed in his federal cell, I focused my attention on the rest of the Montgomery family structure.
I drove out to Patricia’s upscale home in the suburbs of Virginia Beach. Armed with a civil asset forfeiture warrant signed by a federal judge, I was accompanied by two CID investigators and a team of movers.
When we pulled into the driveway, Derek’s sister, Jenna—who had been released on temporary electronic monitoring—came running out the front door, shouting wildly.
“You can’t be here!” Jenna screamed, waving her arms. “This is my mother’s property!”
I stepped out of my SUV, adjusting my military cover. “This property was used as collateral for fraudulent loans backed by my stolen military pay, Jenna. Everything inside this house bought with my money is being seized.”
“You’re a monster!” Jenna yelled, tears of rage smearing her makeup. “Derek made a mistake! Why are you trying to destroy our whole family?!”
I walked up the porch steps until I was standing inches from her.
“Your brother left my daughter to starve in her own waste while you drank champagne on a yacht,” I said, my voice dripping with pure ice. “You knew Lily was alone in that house, didn't you?”
Jenna’s eyes darted nervously toward the movers unloading empty boxes from the truck. “I... I didn't know it was for three days! Mom said—"
“I checked the text messages retrieved from your phone, Jenna,” I interrupted, pulling a printed transcript from my coat pocket. “On Tuesday morning, you texted your mother: 'Are we sure the kid will be fine until Sunday?' And Patricia replied: 'She has tap water and dry cereal. Stop worrying and enjoy the ocean.'”
Jenna went dead silent, her mouth hanging open.
“You read that text, Jenna,” I continued, my voice shaking with righteous fury. “You read it, you boarded that ship, and you took pictures of your manicured nails while my four-year-old daughter cried herself to sleep on a filthy floor.”
The investigators pushed past her, entering the house and beginning the systematic inventory and removal of high-value electronics, designer handbags, jewelry, and furniture purchased with the stolen nineteen thousand dollars.
“You won't get away with this!” Jenna sobbed, sitting down on the porch steps as her designer living room set was hauled out to the street.
“I already have,” I replied smoothly. “By the end of the week, the bank will foreclose on this house, your mother will be serving a ten-year sentence for conspiracy, and you will be facing felony child endangerment charges as an accessory.”
I turned my back on her, stepping into my SUV where Lily was sitting in her brand-new car seat, holding a stuffed teddy bear.
May you like
“Mama?” Lily asked softly, looking out the window. “Are we going home now?”
I reached back and squeezed her small hand. “We’re going to a new home, baby. A home where nobody will ever hurt us again.”
