My parents called at 1 A.M. screaming, “Wire $20,000—your brother’s in the ER!” I asked one question… and they dodged it. So I said, “Call your favorite daughter,” hung up, and went back to sleep. The next morning… police were at my door.

It was the first time I’d ever seen anyone in my parents’ house tell Mark to shut up and have it stick.

Emily’s tears slid down her cheeks, smearing mascara further. “He said if he didn’t pay… he’d be in trouble.”

My mother made a choking sound. “Emily, why didn’t you tell us—”

Emily’s laugh came out sharp and bitter. “I did tell you. You always tell me it’ll be okay. You always say we’ll figure it out. And then you call Olivia.”

My mother’s face collapsed.

My father swallowed hard. “Emily…”

Emily wiped her face with the back of her hand like a child. “I found a service online. It showed how you can make a call look like it’s from someone else. I thought… if it looked like Mom… Olivia would—”

My throat tightened. Heat rushed into my face. Not embarrassment. Rage.

“You used my mother’s voice,” I said, and my own voice sounded unfamiliar, low and steady. “You used Mark dying.”

Emily flinched. “I didn’t mean—”

Green cut in, calm and exact. “Emily, did you send the text with wire instructions?”

Emily’s shoulders sagged. “Yes.”

Green nodded once, then looked at my parents. “Did you know she was doing this?”

My mother’s eyes were huge, wet. “No,” she whispered. “I swear, no.”