Chapter 6 - VIVIAN HAD BEEN BUILDING A CASE AGAINST EVIE
Gregory Pike was not a criminal mastermind.
He was a licensed private investigator hired by Vivian.
His invoices described the assignment clearly:
Document subject’s instability, workplace conflicts, inappropriate relationships, and disability-related limitations.
Subject:
Evie Whitaker.
Evie read the line twice.
Then once more.
Daniel looked sick.
“She hired someone to prove you’re unstable?”
“To prove I’m unfit.”
“For what?”
Evie already knew.
The Whitaker Family Foundation.
Robert planned to retire as chair.
He wanted Daniel and Evie to join the board together.
Vivian hated the idea.
She had told Madeline privately that Evie would “turn the foundation into a hospital bureaucracy.”
But the PI invoices suggested more.
Vivian was collecting material to challenge Evie’s competency in any future family financial role.
Her hearing loss appeared repeatedly.
Cannot hear conversations in crowded settings.
Uses assistive processor.
Asks speakers to repeat themselves.
Not evidence of incompetence.
Just disability recast as weakness.
Then Daniel found a draft letter in Vivian’s files.
To the foundation board:
I have growing concerns that Evie’s medical limitations and emotional instability impair her judgment.
Daniel stopped reading.
His face changed.
“Mom knew exactly what she was doing.”
Evie looked at him.
May you like
“Yes.”
He flinched because the word carried six years of warnings he had minimized.
