Chapter 6 - THE SIGNATURE OF A DEAD WOMAN
Amelia waited until evening to confront Sabrina.
The bridal party had gone into the city for dinner. Vanessa attended a charity reception. Jonathan claimed he needed to meet his father.
For the first time since Amelia arrived, the manor was quiet.
Sabrina sat in the upstairs dressing room, surrounded by wedding gowns and open jewelry cases.
Amelia placed Jonathan’s phone photograph on the table between them.
Sabrina looked at it.
Her face turned pale.
“Where did you get this?”
“Jonathan.”
“He had no right.”
“That isn’t a denial.”
Sabrina stood.
“I was helping Mother.”
“With what?”
“Dad’s estate.”
“Three years after he died?”
“There were unresolved accounts.”
“Why were you wearing his ring?”
Sabrina touched her right hand as though the ring were still there.
“Mother said the bank required proof that I was a family representative.”
“Banks require documents, not jewelry.”
“I didn’t know that.”
“What was in the file?”
“I never opened it.”
“What happened after you delivered it?”
Sabrina walked to the window.
“Mother said the estate was finally secure.”
“Did she tell you I was dead?”
Sabrina did not answer.
Amelia’s throat tightened.
“Look at me.”
Slowly, Sabrina turned.
“Did she tell you I was dead?”
“She said your unit had been attacked.”
“And you believed her?”
“She had a letter.”
“What letter?”
“An official notification. It said the details were classified.”
Amelia stared at her sister.
“You never called anyone?”
“I tried. Your number was disconnected. Your command would not give me information.”
“Because you weren’t listed as my emergency contact.”
“Mother was.”
Amelia suddenly understood.
Years earlier, Vanessa had insisted Amelia list her as primary contact.
“You held a funeral?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Mother said the government could not release your body or confirm the death publicly.”
“And that made sense to you?”
Sabrina began to cry.
“Nothing made sense. I had already lost Dad. Then I thought I lost you.”
“But you never told Jonathan.”
“I couldn’t. Mother made me sign a nondisclosure agreement.”
Amelia almost laughed.
“A family nondisclosure agreement?”
“She said revealing your death could endanger other soldiers.”
“Show it to me.”
“I don’t have it.”
“Where is the ring?”
“Mother took it back.”
“When?”
“The same day.”
Amelia moved closer.
“What exactly did you do at the bank?”
Sabrina closed her eyes.
“I signed a witness statement confirming that Mother had received notification of your death.”
“Did you sign my name?”
“No.”
“Did you watch anyone sign my name?”
Sabrina hesitated.
That was enough.
“Who?”
“Mother’s attorney.”
“Name.”
“Gabriel Shaw.”
Amelia knew Gabriel Shaw. He had served as Vanessa’s personal attorney for years and was now running for state attorney general.
“What did he sign?”
“I don’t know.”
“Sabrina.”
“I swear.”
Amelia turned away, trying to control her anger.
Her sister had participated in the theft.
Perhaps unknowingly.
Perhaps not.
“What did Mother promise you?”
Sabrina’s expression changed.
“Nothing.”
“That is another lie.”
“She promised the house would be protected.”
“And?”
“The wedding.”
Amelia looked at the gowns, diamonds, and flower samples.
“How much did this wedding cost?”
Sabrina whispered, “Nearly one million.”
“Paid from where?”
“I thought it came from Mother’s company.”
“What company?”
Sabrina did not answer.
Vanessa had spent years presenting herself as a successful investment adviser. Yet no one could name a client.
Amelia picked up her phone and called Evelyn Cross.
Cross answered immediately.
“I have evidence Sabrina witnessed a false death declaration.”
“Do not send it electronically.”
“Gabriel Shaw signed documents.”
A pause.
“That complicates things.”
“Why?”
“Shaw worked in military legal affairs when your father died.”
Amelia looked at Sabrina.
“What rank?”
“Lieutenant colonel.”
“JAG?”
“Yes.”
Amelia’s mind returned to Robert’s recording.
The second intermediary is attached to the Department of Defense.
“Shaw was involved in Operation Glass Harbor.”
“Possibly.”
“He is the second intermediary.”
“We need proof.”
“I have a witness.”
Sabrina stared at her.
Cross continued.
“Is the witness safe?”
Amelia looked toward the dark hallway.
“I don’t know.”
A loud crash came from downstairs.
Amelia ended the call.
She drew a compact pistol from an ankle holster.
Sabrina gasped.
“You brought a gun?”
“I brought caution.”
They moved into the corridor.
Another crash sounded near Robert’s study.
Amelia descended first.
The study door stood open.
Inside, books had been pulled from the shelves and thrown across the floor.
The desk had been overturned.
Margaret Doyle lay beside the fireplace.
Blood darkened her gray hair.
Amelia rushed to her.
Margaret was breathing.
Barely.
Sabrina called emergency services.
Amelia checked the room.
The intruder was gone.
Margaret opened her eyes.
“Miss Amelia.”
“I’m here.”
“The ledger.”
“Where is it?”
Margaret’s hand trembled as she pointed toward Robert’s photograph.
“Not a book. Not a paper.”
“What is it?”
“A song.”
Amelia leaned closer.
Margaret struggled to breathe.
“Your father recorded the numbers as music.”
Sirens sounded in the distance.
“Where is the recording?”
Margaret looked toward Sabrina.
May you like
“Wedding.”
Then her eyes closed.
