Chapter 3 - The Woman in the Green Coat
Vivian entered the library without waiting for permission.
She had lived at Bellweather for almost four years, ever since Adrian’s funeral. At first, the arrangement had been temporary. Vivian had said she could not bear to return to the apartment where her son had called her every Sunday.
Elena had understood.
She had been grieving too.
One month became six. Six months became a year. Vivian redecorated the west wing, replaced staff members and began referring to Bellweather as the Vale family home.
Elena had allowed it because grief had made confrontation feel cruel.
Now she wondered whether Vivian had mistaken kindness for surrender.
Daniel closed his case.
“We were discussing estate planning.”
Vivian looked at Elena.
“Without me?”
“It is my estate.”
“Bellweather is Adrian’s legacy.”
“Bellweather belonged to my father.”
“Your father treated Adrian like a son.”
“That still did not make him the owner.”
Vivian’s mouth tightened.
She set her tea on the desk.
“Sarah told me you are delaying the trust again.”
“I’m reviewing the document.”
“There is nothing to review.”
Daniel spoke calmly.
“There are always details to review in a property transfer.”
Vivian’s gaze shifted to him.
“Your involvement has complicated this family from the beginning.”
“My involvement has kept Elena from signing documents she did not understand.”
“Elena is perfectly capable of understanding.”
“I agree.”
The answer left Vivian with nowhere to go.
She turned toward Elena.
“The gala is important to Sarah.”
“The hospital should be important. Ownership of the ballroom should not be.”
“You know how hard she has worked since Adrian died.”
“I know she has hosted eleven parties.”
“Fundraisers.”
“Three never transferred their promised donations.”
Vivian’s eyes narrowed.
“That is an accusation.”
“It is a financial record.”
The room fell silent.
Vivian picked up her tea.
“Adrian would be ashamed of how suspicious you have become.”
Elena felt the familiar pain those words were designed to create.
Vivian had used Adrian’s memory many times. Sometimes she invoked his kindness. Sometimes his loyalty. Whenever Elena resisted, Vivian produced an imaginary version of Adrian who agreed with his mother.
This time, Elena did not defend herself.
“You should leave the library.”
Vivian stared at her.
Then she smiled faintly.
“Of course. It is your house.”
The words sounded polite.
The tone did not.
She left and closed the door.
Daniel waited until her footsteps disappeared.
“She knew about the document.”
“You can’t know that.”
“She looked directly at my case.”
“She may have guessed.”
“She may also know exactly what we found.”
Elena sat behind the desk.
“What do we do?”
“First, I take the agreement to a forensic examiner. Second, you behave as though everything is normal. Third, we identify who accessed the security controls.”
“And the woman?”
“Keep Mia away from the garden until we know who she is.”
Elena nodded.
Daniel moved toward the door, then stopped.
“There’s something else.”
“What?”
“Your name on the forged document includes Vale.”
“That’s still my legal surname.”
“But your property signature does not.”
Elena understood.
After Adrian died, she had continued using Vale socially, especially for Mia’s sake. But every deed, corporate filing and property agreement was signed Elena Rose Mercer.
The forger had copied a personal signature, not a legal one.
“Where would they get it?”
“Birthday cards. School forms. Household accounts.”
“Or the guest book.”
Daniel looked at her.
The Bellweather guest book sat on a marble table in the front hall. Elena had signed it beneath Adrian’s name on the night they moved in.
Anyone in the house could copy it.
After Daniel left, Elena found Mia in the kitchen decorating cookies with Rosa, the housekeeper.
Mia had flour on her nose.
For a moment, Elena allowed herself to breathe.
Then Mia saw her expression.
“Is Mr. Daniel mad?”
“No.”
“Is Aunt Sarah mad?”
“Probably.”
Mia considered this.
“She’s always mad.”
Rosa hid a smile by turning toward the oven.
Elena sat beside Mia.
“I need you to tell me everything you remember about the woman outside.”
Mia looked at Rosa.
“It’s all right,” Elena said. “You’re not in trouble.”
“She was standing by the greenhouse.”
“What time?”
“After my clock said one.”
“Why were you awake?”
“I heard someone walking in the hall.”
“Inside the house?”
Mia nodded.
“Did you see who?”
“No. I looked out my window. The woman was down there.”
“What did she look like?”
“Like you.”
Elena’s stomach tightened.
“How?”
“Her hair. Her face a little. But older.”
“What did she do?”
“She looked up at me and put her finger over her mouth.”
“And then?”
“She pointed at the greenhouse.”
“Did you go outside?”
“No. I know I’m not allowed.”
“Good.”
“When I woke up, the note was under the door.”
Elena took Mia’s hands.
“Did the woman say anything?”
Mia looked down.
“No.”
“Mia.”
The child’s fingers curled around Elena’s.
“She said one thing.”
Elena waited.
“She said my name.”
Rosa turned away from the oven.
Elena felt the room grow colder.
“Exactly what did she say?”
Mia’s voice became a whisper.
“She said, ‘Mia, ask your mother what happened to Marianne.’”
A metal tray slipped from Rosa’s hand.
It hit the floor with a crash.
Elena jumped.
Rosa stood motionless, staring at Mia.
Her face had lost all color.
“Rosa?”
The housekeeper bent quickly to retrieve the tray.
“I’m sorry.”
“You know that name.”
“No.”
“You reacted.”
“It startled me.”
“Rosa, look at me.”
The older woman slowly raised her eyes.
She had worked for Gabriel Mercer before Elena inherited Bellweather. She had lived in the staff cottage for nearly eighteen years. If anyone knew the house’s history, it was Rosa.
“Who is Marianne?” Elena asked.
Rosa’s eyes filled with fear.
“You should speak to your father’s old driver.”
“My father’s driver died five years ago.”
“No,” Rosa said quietly. “That is what Mr. Mercer told everyone.”
She crossed the kitchen and locked the door.
Then she looked at Mia.
“The woman in the garden was not a stranger.”
Elena’s throat tightened.
“Who was she?”
May you like
Rosa’s answer came barely above a breath.
“Marianne Mercer was your mother.”
