THE PLATE OF COLD POTATOES

Naomi arrived before sunrise.

She carried a sealed file her father had left behind when he retired.

For more than thirty years, he had refused to discuss Bellweather House.

After Henry’s death, he gave the file to Naomi with instructions to open it only if someone challenged Claire’s ownership.

The file contained a copy of the original sale.

Henry had paid the bank $82,000.

However, the source of the money was listed as the Merritt Employee Restitution Fund.

“What was that?” Claire asked.

“Edward Merritt owned a construction company,” Naomi said. “Michael’s father.”

“I know.”

“His company deducted money from employee wages for pensions and medical benefits. The money disappeared.”

Claire stared at her.

“How much?”

“Nearly $600,000.”

“Did Edward steal it?”

“That was the accusation. Before charges were filed, his company collapsed. Bellweather House entered foreclosure.”

“And my father?”

“Henry was the company accountant.”

Claire stood and walked toward the window.

Her father had always said he worked as an independent bookkeeper before opening his own firm. He had never mentioned Edward Merritt.

“Did Dad steal the employee money?”

“We don’t know.”

“You said he bought the house using the restitution fund.”

“The money was recovered from an account Henry identified. A judge approved part of it to settle the property’s bank debt because the house had been pledged as security for the employee fund.”

“Then why did Dad become the owner?”

“He negotiated an agreement. He paid additional money, took responsibility for locating the remaining stolen funds, and allowed the Merritts to remain temporarily.”

“Did he find the rest?”

Naomi opened another envelope.

“Most of it.”

“Most?”

“Approximately $90,000 was never recovered.”

Claire thought of the black ledger stolen from the study.

“What happened to Edward?”

“He disappeared before he could testify.”

“Michael told me his father died in a car accident.”

“A burned car was found. No identifiable body was recovered.”

Claire felt cold.

“Why would Michael lie?”

“He may have believed Ruth.”

“No. He knew enough to create the Merritt Renewal Trust.”

Naomi nodded.

“There is something else.”

She removed a photograph.

It showed Henry outside Bellweather House with the same unknown woman Claire had seen in the study.

The woman held a baby wrapped in a blue blanket.

On the back, Henry had written three names.

Henry Bennett.

Elena Merritt.

Gabriel.

“Elena was Edward’s younger sister,” Naomi said.

“Michael’s aunt?”

“Yes.”

“Who is Gabriel?”

“No public record connects a child by that name to Elena.”

Claire examined the photograph.

The symbol from the trust appeared on the woman’s necklace.

The divided circle.

“Could Elena have created the Merritt Renewal Trust?”

“It was created recently.”

“Maybe it copied something older.”

Naomi looked impressed.

“That is possible.”

Dustin entered the study wearing his pajamas.

He stopped when he saw the photograph.

“Who is that lady?”

“We don’t know yet.”

He pointed at the baby.

“Is that Michael?”

“No. Michael would have been older.”

Dustin picked up the photograph.

“Granddad had another one.”

Claire looked at him.

“Where?”

“In the basement.”

Henry had never allowed Claire into the locked storage room beneath the rear staircase. After his death, she found it filled with broken furniture, old paint cans, and gardening equipment.

Dustin led them downstairs.

Behind a loose wooden panel was a narrow space.

Inside sat a metal box.

The box was empty except for a torn piece of paper.

Naomi unfolded it.

The message was written in Henry’s hand.

The black ledger contains every payment Edward made after his disappearance. If the ledger is taken, follow the money to the child.

Claire looked at the photograph again.

“What child?”

A sound came from upstairs.

The front door opening.

Ruiz had stationed an officer outside, so Claire expected to hear him announce a visitor.