Chapter 2 - the woman who arrived too quickly)
Eleanor drove directly to Rachel's apartment.
Rachel had printed Claire's message.
The paper lay between them on the kitchen table.
If anything happens to me, do not let Daniel sign anything.
Nothing followed.
No explanation.
No name.
No accusation.
Just one sentence sent forty eight hours before Claire's death.
Why did you not tell the police.
I did.
Rachel pushed her hair behind one ear.
They said it was too vague to establish anything. Claire had been worried about Daniel's business for months.
Was Daniel having financial trouble.
Rachel shook her head.
Claire never said.
Eleanor studied the message again.
Did Claire ever mention Vanessa by full name.
Once.
When.
About three weeks before the crash.
And what exactly did she say.
Rachel closed her eyes, reconstructing the conversation.
She said Daniel had brought home a consultant named Vanessa Cole. Apparently she had been helping restructure some company investments.
Whitmore Development had several outside consultants.
But Eleanor knew most of them.
Vanessa Cole was not one.
Did Claire like her.
No.
Why.
Claire thought Vanessa was too interested in Daniel personally.
That evening Eleanor called the company attorney, Martin Hayes.
Martin had worked with the Whitmore family for almost twenty years.
He answered from his office.
Eleanor. Is everything all right.
I want to know who Vanessa Cole is.
A pause.
Martin.
I know the name.
In what capacity.
She advised Daniel on the East Harbor transaction.
What transaction.
Another pause.
Eleanor felt her stomach tighten.
Come to my office tomorrow.
No. Tell me now.
I would rather explain it with the documents in front of us.
That meant the documents were bad.
Eleanor arrived at eight the next morning.
Martin closed his office door.
Whitmore Development had recently attempted to purchase forty acres of waterfront property known as East Harbor.
Daniel structured the purchase through a separate investment entity.
Why.
Tax exposure, liability, investors. It was not automatically suspicious.
But.
Martin removed his glasses.
Daniel borrowed heavily against his personal shares.
How heavily.
Twenty eight million dollars.
Eleanor went still.
That was nearly everything Daniel personally controlled.
Does the board know.
Yes.
Do I.
You stepped away from operations after Richard died.
Do not hide behind my retirement, Martin.
He lowered his eyes.
No. You were not informed.
Eleanor stood and walked to the window.
Who introduced the lenders.
Vanessa.
Eleanor turned.
What exactly does Vanessa do.
Officially, private capital advisory.
Unofficially, I am not sure.
Did Claire know.
Yes.
Martin reached for a folder.
Claire came here one month before her accident.
Eleanor's anger rose.
And you did not tell me.
Attorney client privilege.
Claire was your client.
For one matter.
Which matter.
Martin opened the folder.
She wanted to understand the Whitmore family trust.
Eleanor stared at him.
The trust created by Richard was worth more than the company itself.
It included commercial properties, investment accounts, and controlling interests in several subsidiaries.
Daniel was a beneficiary.
But he did not control it.
Eleanor did.
Why was Claire asking.
Martin slid a photocopy across the desk.
Because Daniel asked her to sign this.
It was a spousal consent form.
Had Claire signed it, Daniel could have pledged future trust distributions as collateral for additional financing.
Eleanor felt sick.
She refused.
Yes.
Then she died.
Martin said nothing.
Eleanor looked at the date.
Four days before the accident.
She thought about Claire's message to Rachel.
Do not let Daniel sign anything.
What happened after her death.
Martin's expression changed.
Daniel signed a different set of documents.
What kind.
A personal guarantee.
For how much.
Martin answered quietly.
Sixty million.
Eleanor stared at him.
Against what collateral.
His expected inheritance.
He cannot pledge my estate.
Not directly.
Then what did he do.
He represented that a transfer was imminent.
Eleanor almost smiled at the absurdity.
I have transferred nothing.
I know.
Who accepted that representation.
Vanessa's firm.
The office seemed suddenly smaller.
Eleanor returned to her chair.
Martin, tell me something I am not going to enjoy hearing.
He hesitated.
Vanessa is not simply Daniel's household manager.
I gathered that.
Daniel amended his will three weeks ago.
Eleanor felt an odd pressure behind her ribs.
And.
If Daniel dies, most of his personal estate goes into a trust controlled by Vanessa until Sophie turns thirty.
Why would he do that.
Daniel claims Vanessa is his fiancée.
Eleanor stopped breathing for one second.
Claire had been dead less than two months.
Fiancée.
Martin nodded.
Eleanor stood.
She drove to Daniel's mansion without calling.
Vanessa opened the door wearing Daniel's bathrobe.
Neither woman spoke.
Then Daniel appeared at the top of the staircase.
Mom.
Eleanor looked from him to Vanessa.
Tell me she is not wearing Claire's husband's robe because she slept in Claire's bed.
Vanessa folded her arms.
This is Daniel's home.
Eleanor looked at her son.
How long.
Daniel descended the stairs.
Do not do this.
How long have you been sleeping with her.
Mom.
Before Claire died.
No.
Vanessa touched Daniel's shoulder.
You do not have to explain yourself.
Eleanor stared at the hand.
Remove your hand from my son.
Vanessa smiled.
Daniel stepped between them.
Enough.
His voice was sharper than Eleanor had ever heard it.
She looked into his eyes.
For one moment, she thought she saw shame.
Then it disappeared.
Daniel, Claire was frightened of this woman.
That is not true.
She went to Martin Hayes.
Daniel's face changed.
Only slightly.
But Eleanor saw it.
Vanessa saw it too.
And in that instant Eleanor understood something important.
Daniel had not known Claire visited the attorney.
Which meant Vanessa had just learned it too.
Vanessa recovered first.
Claire was unstable after the baby.
Eleanor's hand curled.
Say that again.
Daniel stepped closer.
Mom, leave.
Eleanor ignored him.
Vanessa, did Claire know about you.
Vanessa smiled.
Claire knew many things.
Daniel turned toward her.
What is that supposed to mean.
Nothing.
But Eleanor had already heard enough.
She walked upstairs.
Daniel followed.
Where are you going.
To Sophie.
You cannot just take her.
Watch me.
Eleanor entered the nursery.
The crib was empty.
Her heart jumped.
Where is she.
Daniel looked confused.
Vanessa appeared behind him.
The nanny took Sophie to the park.
Which park.
Vanessa shrugged.
Eleanor stared at her.
Call her.
There is no need.
Call her.
Daniel reached for his phone.
Then stopped.
His expression became uncertain.
I fired the nanny yesterday.
Eleanor looked at Vanessa.
May you like
Then who took Sophie to the park.
For the first time, Vanessa did not have an immediate answer.
