Chapter 7 - the attorney behind the curtain)
Charles Carrington denied everything.
He agreed to meet Robert only because Martin threatened to seek an emergency injunction freezing the trust.
Charles's office overlooked downtown Savannah.
He was sixty-two, silver-haired, immaculate, and calm in the way powerful attorneys often were when they believed everyone else knew less than they did.
Robert placed the trust agreement on his desk.
Charles barely looked at it.
"Old estate planning."
"You become temporary trustee if my grandchildren enter disputed custody."
"Under certain circumstances."
"Did Ethan know?"
"I don't discuss client communications."
"Grace was your friend."
"Grace was my sister's friend."
Robert leaned forward.
"My daughter is dead."
Charles did not react.
Robert continued.
"Ethan abandoned three children beside her grave."
"I heard."
"And you don't find that unusual?"
"I find Ethan disappointing."
"Only disappointing?"
Charles folded his hands.
"What are you accusing me of?"
Robert watched him.
"I haven't decided yet."
Charles smiled faintly.
"Then perhaps decide before coming into my office."
Martin placed a copy of the Bellweather payment on the desk.
The smile disappeared.
Charles studied it.
"Where did you get this?"
"Does that matter?"
"It may have been obtained unlawfully."
Robert almost laughed.
"You are more concerned about how we found it than what it says."
Charles looked at Martin.
"You should advise him carefully."
Martin remained silent.
Robert placed another photograph down.
Ethan with Captain Doyle.
Charles glanced at it.
Then looked away.
That was enough.
"You know Doyle."
"Everyone in Savannah knows Doyle."
"Did Grace?"
Charles did not answer.
Robert stood.
The meeting was over.
As they reached the door, Charles spoke.
"Robert."
He turned.
Charles's expression had changed.
"Be careful with Lydia."
Robert stared at him.
"Why?"
"My sister loved Grace."
"That isn't an answer."
Charles looked toward the window.
"Love can make people do irrational things."
Robert left without responding.
Outside, Martin said what both were thinking.
"He wants us looking at Lydia."
"Which means either she's guilty or he's terrified of what she knows."
They returned home.
Lydia was waiting.
Her face was pale.
"I need to show you something."
She handed Robert her phone.
A message had arrived from an unknown number.
STOP TALKING OR THE GIRLS LOSE ANOTHER MOTHER.
Robert's blood ran cold.
"Lydia, why would they call you another mother?"
She began crying.
"Because Grace named me in a guardianship document."
Martin stared at her.
"What document?"
"She changed her will two months ago."
Robert felt anger rising.
"Why didn't I know?"
"She was afraid Ethan would discover it."
"Who prepared the will?"
Lydia looked away.
"My brother."
The room exploded into silence.
Charles had prepared a will that could give Lydia custody.
Charles also stood to control millions if the girls entered a guardianship dispute.
Robert finally saw the shape of the scheme.
Maybe Ethan's abandonment had not been impulsive.
Maybe someone wanted the children deliberately thrown into legal uncertainty.
"Did Charles know Grace was investigating Ethan?"
Lydia whispered.
"Yes."
Robert closed his eyes.
There it was.
"How much?"
"Almost everything."
"Why?"
"Because she trusted him."
Robert stared at her.
"And did he tell Ethan?"
"I don't know."
But Lydia's voice broke.
She knew.
Or suspected.
That night Detective Jennings called.
Captain Raymond Doyle had retired unexpectedly that morning.
No notice.
No farewell.
His house was empty.
His personal vehicle was gone.
Border alerts had been issued.
Robert looked at the notebook.
One man was running.
Another was hiding behind attorney-client privilege.
And Ethan, who had abandoned his children less than forty-eight hours earlier, had suddenly filed an emergency petition seeking full custody.
Martin read the filing twice.
Robert stared at him.
"Why would he want them now?"
Martin pointed to one paragraph.
Because Ethan was accusing Robert of manipulating the children and unlawfully withholding Grace's estate documents.
Sophia stood in the doorway.
"He knows."
Robert looked at her.
"Knows what?"
"Not where the evidence is."
She shook her head.
"But he knows we found something."
Then Maisie entered behind her.
She was holding Grace's stuffed pillow.
Something hard was inside.
Robert cut one seam carefully.
A small USB drive fell onto the table.
Attached to it was a label in Grace's handwriting.
HOME CAMERA 3.
Sophia looked at Robert.
May you like
Their mother had hidden one more piece of evidence.
And Ethan had no idea it existed.
