Chapter 9 - THE SECOND CLIENT
Margaret Ashford was released from police custody that afternoon.
She had not been charged.
Her attorney argued that there was no direct evidence proving she placed medication in Emma’s drink. The apple-juice container had several fingerprints, including those of catering staff, family members, and Rachel herself.
Margaret admitted giving Emma juice.
She denied adding anything to it.
She claimed her comment about removing Emma from the photograph referred only to the earlier disagreement about the stuffed rabbit.
Vanessa’s accusation, according to Margaret’s attorney, had been caused by panic and longstanding resentment.
The family’s crisis-management firm released another statement emphasizing Margaret’s cooperation.
Rachel watched the news report from Emma’s hospital room.
Margaret appeared outside the police station wearing a dark coat and a concerned expression.
“My granddaughter is precious to me,” she told reporters. “Our family’s only priority is her recovery.”
Rachel switched off the television.
Amelia sat at the small desk reviewing documents.
“They are moving quickly.”
“To erase what happened?”
“To bury it beneath competing explanations.”
“Can they succeed?”
“With the public? Possibly. With the police? That depends on evidence.”
Rachel looked at Emma, who was coloring slowly with crayons.
Her strength was returning.
But whenever a nurse closed the trash bin near the sink, Emma began crying.
Rachel had asked for it to be removed.
“What about Aaron’s statement?” Rachel asked.
“The police cannot rely on a motel manager’s memory alone.”
“He said Margaret was not the client.”
“He said the grandmother was never the client. We do not know whether he meant Margaret hired him through someone else or whether someone entirely different directed him.”
Rachel thought about North Vale Strategies.
“Daniel.”
“Possibly.”
“Or Charles.”
“Possibly.”
“Or Lily.”
Amelia looked up.
“Do you suspect Lily?”
“She warned me.”
“That may suggest she was trying to help.”
“Or trying to control where I looked.”
Rachel hated herself for doubting Lily.
But the Ashfords had taught her that kindness could be camouflage.
Her phone received a message.
It was from Vanessa.
Please meet me alone. I know why Aaron said Margaret was not the client.
Rachel showed Amelia.
“Do not go alone.”
“She specifically asked me to.”
“That is why you should not.”
Rachel typed a response.
Where?
Vanessa replied.
Hospital chapel. Ten minutes.
Amelia stood.
“I’ll come with you and remain outside.”
The chapel was empty except for Vanessa.
She sat in the back row with a large handbag beside her. Her face was pale.
Rachel sat two seats away.
“Why did Aaron say Margaret was not the client?”
Vanessa looked toward the closed chapel doors.
“Because Margaret never signs her own instructions.”
“That sounds like she was still responsible.”
“She gives orders through family members. Assistants. Attorneys. People who owe her something.”
“Who hired Aaron?”
“Charles.”
Rachel’s thoughts shifted.
“Daniel’s father?”
“His company paid the first invoice.”
“Why?”
“Margaret told him Rachel Bennett was preparing to damage the family.”
“What did that mean?”
“You had asked questions about the foundation.”
Rachel frowned.
“I asked Daniel why medical grants were being redirected.”
Vanessa nodded.
“Exactly.”
Three months earlier, Rachel had helped design educational materials for a pediatric clinic funded by the Ashford Foundation. During a meeting, the clinic director mentioned that half the promised funding had never arrived.
Rachel had asked Daniel about it.
He told her the allocation had changed.
She had not forgotten, but she had not connected it to the investigation.
“What does foundation money have to do with Emma?”
“I don’t know.”
“You said you knew why Aaron said Margaret wasn’t the client.”
“Charles hired him. But someone else expanded the assignment.”
“Who?”
Vanessa opened her handbag.
She removed a folder.
Inside were copies of invoices from Aaron Pike’s agency.
The first invoices listed surveillance of Rachel.
Later invoices used coded descriptions.
Asset documentation.
Custodial vulnerability assessment.
Emergency relocation planning.
Rachel’s hands began shaking.
“What is emergency relocation planning?”
“I think they were preparing to remove Emma.”
“Who authorized this?”
Vanessa pointed at a set of initials.
D.B.
Daniel Bennett.
Rachel stared at them.
“My husband.”
“I do not know whether he understood what he was signing.”
“He sent one hundred thousand dollars to North Vale.”
Vanessa’s face changed.
“You know about North Vale?”
“What is it?”
“An Ashford private-security company.”
“It was formed six weeks ago.”
“The name was formed six weeks ago. The operation existed much longer.”
“What operation?”
Vanessa looked toward the chapel entrance again.
“Cleaning problems.”
Rachel felt cold.
“What kind of problems?”
“People who might speak.”
The chapel door opened.
Both women jumped.
Lily entered.
Her engagement dress had been replaced with jeans and a dark sweater. She locked the door behind her.
“Aunt Vanessa, you were told not to come here.”
Vanessa stood.
“You followed me?”
“I followed the man following you.”
Rachel looked between them.
“What man?”
Lily approached the nearest stained-glass window and pulled the curtain closed.
“Rachel, you need to move Emma out of this hospital.”
“She is still under observation.”
“This hospital receives millions from the Ashford Foundation.”
Rachel’s blood ran cold.
“What are you saying?”
“I am saying my mother knows which doctors are treating Emma, which room she is in, and when she is expected to be discharged.”
Amelia knocked from outside.
Rachel unlocked the door and let her in.
Lily continued.
“They are preparing an emergency custody petition.”
Amelia’s expression sharpened.
“On what grounds?”
“Parental negligence, emotional instability, and suspected plans to flee the state.”
Rachel stared at her.
“They created those accusations.”
“Yes.”
“Who is filing?”
May you like
Lily looked directly at her.
“Daniel.”
