Chapter 4: My Husband's Last Warning
I read my sister's name three times before I could understand what I was looking at.
Eleanor Wilson.
My older sister.
The woman who had held my hand when Robert died. The woman who had driven me to my first chemotherapy appointment. The woman standing beside me now, her fingers wrapped around mine.
I slowly lifted my eyes.
"Eleanor?""
She didn't answer.
Instead, she released my hand.
That small movement hurt more than I expected.
James pulled out a chair.
"Margaret, perhaps you should sit down.""
I ignored him.
"Why did Robert write your name?""
Eleanor swallowed.
"Margaret, please. Not here.""
"Not here?"" I repeated.
"My daughter has apparently forged my signature, someone has taken out a two-million-dollar insurance policy on my life, and my husband's final letter mentions you. Where exactly would you prefer we discuss this?""
Richard Whitmore leaned against the table.
"Your sister knows more than she's telling you.""
I turned toward him.
"And you know everything, apparently.""
Richard didn't smile.
"Your husband and I had a business arrangement years ago. When he died, certain obligations remained.""
"What obligations?""
"Money.""
"How much?""
He glanced at the letter.
"Enough to destroy several lives.""
James stepped forward.
"Father, stop speaking in riddles.""
Richard ignored him.
Eleanor finally spoke.
"Robert asked me to keep something safe.""
I felt my chest tighten.
"What?""
"A document.""
"What document?""
She looked at the letter in my hand.
"The original trust agreement.""
I stared at her.
"Why would you have Robert's trust agreement?""
"Because he didn't trust the people who were supposed to manage it.""
Richard gave a short laugh.
"Your sister is leaving out a rather important detail.""
Eleanor turned toward him.
"Don't.""
"She was paid.""
The room became silent.
I looked at Eleanor.
"Paid?""
She closed her eyes.
"Yes.""
My stomach dropped.
"How much?""
"Twenty-five thousand dollars.""
The exact amount I had saved for Brielle's wedding.
I took a step backward.
"For what?""
Eleanor's eyes filled with tears.
"To keep the original documents away from Richard.""
I couldn't speak.
Richard immediately interrupted.
"That is a ridiculous version of events. Your sister accepted money to conceal evidence of financial misconduct.""
"Whose misconduct?"" James demanded.
Richard adjusted his jacket.
"Robert's.""
Eleanor shook her head.
"That's a lie.""
"Then show us the documents," I said.
She looked at me helplessly.
"I don't have them anymore.""
My heart sank.
"What do you mean?""
"Someone broke into my apartment two weeks ago. They took the folder.""
Richard looked toward the door.
"Perhaps we should end this conversation.""
James moved in front of him.
"You're not leaving until we understand what's happening.""
Richard stared at his son.
"You're choosing strangers over your own father?""
James's jaw tightened.
"Margaret is my family.""
For a moment, Richard looked genuinely offended.
Then he walked out.
The door slammed behind him.
I turned back to Eleanor.
"Tell me everything.""
She sat down and pressed both hands against her forehead.
"Four years before Robert died, he discovered that money was disappearing from the Wilson Family Trust.""
"How much?""
"Initially, around one hundred and fifty thousand dollars. Then more.""
"Who was taking it?""
Eleanor hesitated.
"Richard had convinced Robert to invest in a private development project. The project collapsed, but the money never came back.""
James frowned.
"My father told me that Robert voluntarily invested.""
"Your father lied," Eleanor replied.
She explained that Robert had discovered several transfers to shell companies connected to Richard's investment firm.
He had confronted Richard.
Then, shortly before his death, Robert had begun collecting evidence.
"He told me he was afraid someone would come after you and Brielle," Eleanor said.
I shook my head.
"Why didn't he tell me?""
"Because he thought keeping you out of it would protect you.""
I looked at Robert's letter again.
There was another paragraph beneath the first.
I unfolded it carefully.
If Richard has approached Brielle, he will tell her that the trust belongs to her. He will tell her that Margaret is standing between her and her inheritance. Do not believe him.
My fingers went cold.
The next sentence was worse.
The money he stole was never mine to begin with. It belonged to someone whose identity I promised to protect.
I looked at Eleanor.
"Whose money?""
She couldn't meet my eyes.
"Margaret, there's something else.""
"What?""
"Robert didn't die believing his business had failed.""
I felt my throat tighten.
"What are you saying?""
Eleanor took a shaky breath.
"He believed someone had deliberately caused his death.""
The room seemed to lose all its air.
James stared at her.
"Are you accusing my father of murder?""
"I'm saying Robert received threats. He told me that if anything happened to him, I needed to protect Margaret.""
I looked down at the letter.
The handwriting became blurry.
Robert had died after a sudden cardiac event while driving home from a business meeting.
The police had called it an accident.
I had spent years believing that was the truth.
"Why didn't you tell me?"" I whispered.
Eleanor reached for my hand.
"Because I was afraid.""
Before I could respond, James's phone rang.
He answered.
"Hello?""
A woman's voice came through the speaker.
He listened for several seconds.
Then his expression changed.
"You're at the hospital?""
He looked at me.
"What?""
The woman spoke again.
James slowly stood.
"Dr. Carter wants to see Margaret immediately.""
I grabbed the edge of the table.
"Why?""
James swallowed.
"She says someone used your medical records to submit a second diagnosis.""
"Which diagnosis?""
He looked at the phone.
May you like
Then he answered quietly.
"One that says you have less than thirty days to live.""
