“Daniel?””
“Ms. Carter, we have a serious problem.””
“Margaret has submitted an additional witness statement.””
“From whom?””
I stopped walking.
“Your father has agreed to testify that Eleanor voluntarily surrendered her shares and authorized the medication changes.””
I couldn't speak.
Daniel continued.
“There's another issue. The board has called an emergency vote to suspend your authority pending the ownership hearing.””
“When?””
“Tomorrow morning.””
Then at the notebook in my hands.
My father had finally chosen a side.
And it wasn't mine.
Chapter 13: The Man Who Was There Before She Died
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
The photograph lay on the table between us.
Victor Hale stood beside Margaret Langford outside a hospital entrance, holding a black briefcase. The date written on the back was November 14, 2001.
The day before my mother's medication was changed.
The day before the document naming Margaret as beneficiary was supposedly signed.
And the day before my mother died.
I turned toward Patricia.
“Why did you take this photograph?””
“I didn't. Margaret gave it to me.””
“She wanted me to know that Victor was helping her. She said he was handling the legal arrangements.””
Rebecca picked up the photograph.
“Victor was working for Thomas then. He had access to the company records, the estate documents, and the hospital.””
I stared at the image.
“Did he know about the medication?””
Patricia nodded.
“He delivered the sealed envelope.””
“The one containing the new medication instructions?””
“Did he tell you who prepared them?””
“He said Dr. Mercer had approved everything.””
“Then Victor wasn't just involved in the company fraud. He was involved in what happened to my mother.””
Rebecca lowered the photograph.
“Your mother must have discovered it.””
“Which is why she was trying to change her will.””
“She told me she had an appointment with a solicitor the following morning. She said she wanted to make sure her daughter would never be controlled by Margaret.””
I felt my throat tighten.
“My mother was trying to protect me.””
“Yes,” Patricia whispered.
“And Margaret knew.””
I called Daniel.
“Ms. Carter, the board is still reviewing the petition.””
“Listen carefully. Victor Hale was at the hospital on November 14, 2001, with Margaret Langford. I have a photograph.””
“Do you have the original?””
“Don't send it to anyone yet. We need to preserve the chain of custody.””
“I also have Patricia Moore's testimony, the medication instructions, and Dr. Whitmore's private treatment log.””
Daniel exhaled.
“That's significant.””
“Can you stop the board from voting?””
“I can request an adjournment, but Margaret's attorneys are arguing that you are acting recklessly and have become personally obsessed with the dispute.””
“Then tell them I'll be there.””
“Evelyn, the hearing is in London. You won't make it in time.””
“Then arrange a video appearance.””
“There's something else. Your father has submitted a second statement.””
“What does it say?””
“He claims your mother was mentally unstable and that she voluntarily signed the estate document.””
“Did he witness it?””
“Was he in New York on November 14?””
“He was in London with me.””
I felt a strange relief.
“Can you prove that?””
“I have the original travel records. And the funeral program from my husband's service.””
I told Daniel.
“Add that to our evidence.””
Then I called my father.
He answered after the first ring.
“Why are you helping Margaret?””
“I am trying to prevent you from destroying everything your mother built.””
“You're signing statements saying she was mentally incompetent.””
“She was sick.””
“She was still capable of making decisions.””
“You don't understand what happened.””
He sighed.
“Not over the phone.””
“You seem to have no problem making sworn statements over the phone—or sending them to lawyers.””
“Did you see my mother sign the November 14 document?””
“Was Rebecca there?””
“Then whose signature is that?””
“You signed a statement claiming the document was valid.””
“I signed what I believed to be true.””
“You believed a document was valid when one of the supposed witnesses was thousands of miles away?””
“Were you at the hospital on November 14?””
“Did you see Victor?””
A long pause.
“What was he doing there?””
“He told me he was delivering documents.””
“What documents?””
“I didn't know.””
“Did you know he had prepared my mother's medication instructions?””
My father breathed sharply.
“Evelyn, stop.””
“Did you?””
“I knew he was helping Margaret with the paperwork.””
“I didn't know what was in the envelope.””
“Then why did you let him near my mother?””
“Because I thought I could still control the situation.””
I laughed bitterly.
“You've been saying that for twenty-five years.””
“I was trying to protect you.””
“No. You were trying to protect yourself.””
Then I asked the question that had haunted me since Rebecca's phone call.
“Did you know Margaret planned to change my mother's will?””
“I knew she wanted the estate.””
“Did you help her?””
“I signed a temporary agreement to keep the company out of Thomas's hands. I thought it would buy us time.””
“But it didn't.””
“And when my mother discovered what you'd done?””
He was silent for so long that I thought the call had ended.
“She told me she wanted a divorce.””
“Your mother had discovered the transfer agreement. She believed I had betrayed her.””
“Had you?””
“I thought I could reverse it.””
“But you couldn't.””
I looked at the photograph.
“Did she threaten to expose Margaret?””
“Did Margaret threaten you?””
“What did she threaten you with?””
My father's voice dropped.
“Thomas's death.””
I felt cold.
“You told me it was an accident.””
“It was.””
“Then why were you afraid?””
“Because I had waited before calling the police. Margaret told me she had enough evidence to make it look deliberate.””
“Did you kill Thomas?””
“No!””
His voice cracked.
“I pushed him away. He lost his balance. I panicked.
I should have called the authorities immediately. Instead, I let Margaret take control.””
“And my mother paid for it.””
“Did you know what Margaret and Victor were planning at the hospital?””
“I knew they were preparing documents. I didn't know they were changing medication.””
“Did you see my mother before she died?””
“Did she say anything?””
My father began crying.
“She asked me to tell you that she loved you.””
“Because I couldn't bear to tell you what I had done.””
The call ended with neither of us saying goodbye.
I stood in Patricia's cottage, unable to move.
Rebecca came beside me.
“Evelyn, your father made terrible decisions. But we still need to prove what Margaret did.””
I looked at the photograph again.
“Then we prove everything.””
That evening, Daniel arranged an emergency video hearing with the Sterling & Rowe board.
Margaret appeared on the screen from the company's New York headquarters.
She wore a cream jacket and a pearl necklace.
Her expression was composed.
“Evelyn,” she said, “I hope you've had enough time to calm down.””
I ignored the insult.
“I have evidence that your estate document is fraudulent.””
Margaret smiled faintly.