Chapter 4 - THE GRANDMOTHER WHO KNEW ABOUT THE CAMERA
Lorraine should not have known where the camera was.
Nolan had installed it two years earlier after a package theft.
Tiny.
Built into a smoke detector.
Camille knew.
No one else did.
Yet Lorraine looked directly at it.
That terrified Nolan more than seeing her take the vitamins.
“She knows,” he whispered.
Grant was already calling Boston police.
Nolan grabbed his coat.
“I’m going back.”
“No.”
“That bottle may have killed my wife.”
“And if Lorraine knows we saw her, flying directly home makes you predictable.”
“I don’t care.”
“You have Ivy.”
That stopped him.
Grant was right.
Nolan hated him for being right.
Eli stood near the family wall.
“She won’t hurt Ivy.”
Nolan turned.
“How could you possibly know that?”
Eli’s face tightened.
“Because she needs her.”
The word needs chilled the room.
“Needs her for what?”
Eli looked at the floor.
“Trust control.”
Nolan stepped closer.
“Explain.”
Eli swallowed.
“Camille told me Theodore’s trust had something called a living bloodline lock.”
Grant looked surprised.
“You never told me that.”
“Camille said not to.”
Nolan almost laughed.
Apparently everyone had instructions from his wife except him.
“What does it mean?”
Eli continued.
“If all Theodore’s direct children died, control shifted to surviving grandchildren.”
“Ivy and you.”
“Yes.”
“But if one grandchild is legally missing?”
“The trustee keeps temporary control.”
Robert.
“Until when?”
“Until identity is confirmed.”
Nolan understood.
Eli’s existence could remove Robert’s authority.
Ivy’s existence could do the same.
Which meant both children threatened someone.
“Why would Lorraine need Ivy?”
Eli’s voice dropped.
“She may be able to petition as guardian of the beneficiary.”
Nolan felt anger flash.
“She is not getting guardianship.”
“Not if you’re alive.”
The sentence landed.
Nobody spoke.
Nolan looked at Grant.
“Was that supposed to make me feel better?”
“No.”
Good.
At least he was honest.
Grant’s phone rang.
Boston police.
They arrived at Nolan’s house.
Lorraine was gone.
No forced entry.
The vitamin bottle missing.
But she had left something behind.
An envelope on the kitchen counter.
Nolan’s name.
Police opened it on video with his permission.
Inside:
A copy of Camille’s will.
Not the will Nolan had signed with her attorney.
A different one.
Dated two months later.
Executor:
Lorraine Bennett.
Guardian recommendation for Ivy in the event of Nolan’s incapacity or death:
Lorraine Bennett.
Nolan stared.
“That’s fake.”
Grant said:
“Maybe.”
“It’s fake.”
“Then we prove it.”
Nolan zoomed in.
Camille’s signature looked perfect.
Too perfect.
Witness names.
Notary.
One witness:
Dr. Jonathan Webb.
Camille’s obstetrician.
The same doctor who signed her final hospitalization paperwork.
Nolan’s stomach turned.
Grant looked at the second witness.
“Rebecca Bennett.”
Camille’s sister.
The known one.
Nolan sat down.
Rebecca had held Ivy at Camille’s funeral.
She had hugged Nolan.
Said:
Whatever you need, we’re family.
Now her signature sat on a will that could transfer Ivy toward Lorraine.
“Call Rebecca.”
Grant shook his head.
“Not yet.”
Nolan was done with restraint.
He called.
Rebecca answered after four rings.
“Nolan?”
Her voice sounded cautious.
Not grieving.
Not warm.
Cautious.
“Where are you?”
“Home.”
“Vermont?”
“Yes.”
“Are you alone?”
Pause.
“Why?”
“Did you witness a will Camille signed three months ago?”
Silence.
That was enough.
“Rebecca.”
“She was scared.”
Nolan’s chest tightened.
“Answer the question.”
“Yes.”
“Did she sign it willingly?”
Rebecca began crying.
“I don’t know.”
“What does that mean?”
“Mom brought the papers.”
“Lorraine?”
“Yes.”
“And Camille signed?”
“She was upset.”
“Did she understand what she was signing?”
“Yes.”
“Then why didn’t she tell me?”
“I don’t know.”
Nolan clenched his jaw.
“Did the will say Lorraine should become Ivy’s guardian?”
Rebecca said nothing.
“Rebecca.”
“Yes.”
Nolan felt betrayed all over again.
Then Rebecca whispered:
“But Camille changed it.”
Grant’s eyes sharpened.
“What?”
Nolan put her on speaker.
Rebecca continued:
“She called me two weeks before she died.”
“What did she say?”
“That the will was a trap.”
“A trap for who?”
“Mom.”
Nolan stared at Grant.
“Why would Camille sign a fake plan?”
“To make Mom believe she was cooperating.”
“So there’s another will?”
“Yes.”
“Where?”
“I don’t know.”
Nolan nearly shouted.
Rebecca rushed:
“She said someone named Mercer had the real instructions.”
Grant went still.
Nolan looked at him.
“You.”
Grant’s expression changed.
“Yes.”
“Do you have the real will?”
“No.”
“Then what did Camille give you?”
Grant reached inside his coat.
He removed a small sealed flash drive.
“She gave me this.”
Nolan stared.
“You’ve had that the whole time?”
“She told me not to open it unless Lorraine moved against Ivy.”
Nolan’s voice hardened.
“She broke into my house and took possible murder evidence.”
Grant nodded.
“Then it’s time.”
They connected the drive.
One video file.
Camille appeared on screen.
Pregnant.
Tired.
Alive.
Nolan stopped breathing.
She looked directly into the camera.
“If you are watching this, Lorraine has already made her move.”
Nolan’s eyes filled.
Camille continued:
“Nolan, I’m sorry.”
He covered his mouth.
“I should have told you sooner.”
She looked down.
Then back up.
“Eli is not the only child they erased from the family.”
Eli froze.
Nolan stared.
Camille’s voice broke.
“There was another baby.”
The video ended abruptly.
May you like
Nolan whispered:
“What baby?”
