Chapter 4 - What Happened to Eleanor Bennett)
At breakfast Vivian behaved as though nothing had happened.
Grant did the same.
Ethan admired the performance.
He also understood it.
They were trying to determine how much he knew.
Ethan was doing exactly the same thing.
"The bridge should reopen by afternoon," Vivian said.
"Good."
"You have meetings?"
"Several."
"I imagine everyone waits when Ethan Hale is delayed."
"Not everyone."
Vivian smiled.
"Humility from a billionaire. How refreshing."
Grant poured coffee.
His right hand shook slightly.
Ethan saw a small tear in his shirt sleeve.
"Cat?" Ethan asked.
Grant looked down.
"What?"
"The sleeve."
Grant covered it casually.
"Old nail downstairs."
"Sharp nail."
Vivian looked between them.
Ethan ate another bite of toast.
After breakfast he called Marcus from his room.
"I need Eleanor Bennett's death file."
"Already requested."
"Not the summary. Everything."
"Why?"
"Claire says Vivian told her she killed her mother."
Marcus became quiet.
"At five?"
"Yes."
"That's insane."
"It worked."
"I found something else last night."
"What?"
"The family physician who certified Eleanor's overdose later received two hundred thousand dollars through an Ashford charitable foundation."
"When?"
"Seven months after her death."
Ethan walked to the window.
"Name?"
"Dr. Peter Halden."
"Alive?"
"Yes. Seventy nine. Retired in Vermont."
"Contact him."
"I did."
"And?"
"He hung up when I mentioned Eleanor."
"Call again."
"I sent an investigator."
Ethan smiled faintly.
"That's why I keep you."
"Apparently not for my legal advice."
"What legal advice?"
"The part where I tell you to leave the possible kidnapping mansion."
Ethan heard movement outside the door.
"I'll call back."
He opened it.
Mrs. Doyle stood with fresh towels.
She entered.
Closed the door.
"You spoke to Claire."
"Yes."
The towels slipped slightly in her hands.
"How?"
"Passage."
Mrs. Doyle sat down.
"You shouldn't have."
"Tell me about the blue room."
She went pale.
"No."
"Claire is terrified of it."
"Then don't make her talk about it."
"What is it?"
Mrs. Doyle looked toward the door.
"It used to be Eleanor's sewing room."
"And?"
"Vivian covered the windows."
"Why?"
"Isolation. No food except water. Sometimes for a day. Sometimes longer."
Ethan's jaw tightened.
"How old was Claire the first time?"
"Six."
He turned away because he did not trust his expression.
Mrs. Doyle whispered, "I know what you think of me."
"I doubt you do."
"I was a coward."
"Yes."
She absorbed that without protest.
"But I'm still here," she said. "And maybe that matters now."
"Then help me."
She nodded.
"What really happened to Eleanor?"
Mrs. Doyle stared at him.
"I didn't see her die."
"But?"
"The night before, Eleanor and Vivian argued."
"About what?"
"Claire's inheritance."
Ethan turned back.
"At that time?"
"Eleanor wanted to change the trustees."
"Remove Vivian?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"She had discovered money missing from one of the family accounts."
"How much?"
"Millions."
"And the next day Eleanor died."
Mrs. Doyle nodded.
"Where was Claire?"
"At home."
"Did she see anything?"
"I don't know."
"Vivian claims Claire pushed Eleanor."
"That's impossible."
"Why?"
Mrs. Doyle looked directly at him.
"Because Eleanor didn't fall down stairs."
Ethan froze.
"Official report says she did."
"No. Official report says trauma consistent with a fall and medication overdose."
"What happened?"
"I found Eleanor."
"Where?"
"In her bedroom."
"Not stairs?"
"No."
"Was Claire there?"
"She was hiding underneath the bed."
Ethan felt a chill.
"What did she say?"
"She kept repeating one sentence."
"What sentence?"
Mrs. Doyle's eyes filled with tears.
"She said Aunt Vivian put the medicine in Mommy's tea."
A knock sounded at the door.
Mrs. Doyle stood.
Vivian entered without waiting.
She glanced at the housekeeper.
"Why are you here?"
"Fresh towels."
"Then leave them."
Mrs. Doyle obeyed.
Vivian waited until the door closed.
"She talks too much."
Ethan leaned against the desk.
"Does she?"
"Servants often confuse proximity with importance."
"Interesting philosophy."
Vivian approached.
"I hope your curiosity isn't interfering with our business discussion."
"Curiosity usually improves business."
"Sometimes it ruins it."
She placed a folder on the desk.
"Our revised proposal."
Ethan opened it.
The numbers were extraordinary.
Vivian was offering him development rights worth hundreds of millions at a fraction of market value.
He looked up.
"This is generous."
"Consider it an incentive."
"For what?"
"Speed."
Ethan closed the folder.
"Or silence?"
For the first time, Vivian did not smile.
"Careful."
"About what?"
"You have a reputation for believing money protects you."
"I have a reputation for understanding leverage."
Vivian stepped closer.
"So do I."
Ethan's phone rang.
Marcus.
He answered while maintaining eye contact with Vivian.
"Yes?"
Marcus's voice was urgent.
"Our investigator found Dr. Halden."
"And?"
"He wants immunity before he talks."
Ethan's expression did not change.
Marcus continued.
"He says Eleanor Bennett did not die from an accidental overdose."
Vivian watched Ethan closely.
Ethan asked, "What does he say happened?"
May you like
Marcus took a breath.
"He says Vivian Ashford paid him to falsify the death certificate."
