The detective read aloud.
Richard knows everything. Vanessa must never find out.
Vanessa.
My sister.
Dad sank back into his chair.
Santos continued.
“We checked Mr. Pike’s phone.”
My pulse quickened.
“He received seventeen calls yesterday.”
“From whom?”
The detective looked at me.
“Grant Cole.”
Dad’s face turned gray.
That afternoon, police located Vanessa and Grant at a motel forty miles away.
Grant was arrested for financial fraud.
Vanessa was taken in for questioning.
She insisted the fake death call had been Grant’s idea.
According to her, Grant claimed Dad had died overnight and said Harold had confirmed it.
She admitted making the phone call.
She admitted trying to transfer the money.
She admitted knowing the power of attorney was questionable.
But she denied ever planning to hurt Dad.
Then investigators showed her Harold’s autopsy.
He hadn’t died naturally.
He’d been poisoned.
The poison matched the same medication Dad took for his heart.
Vanessa broke down.
Grant asked for a lawyer.
Dad didn’t speak for almost an hour after hearing the news.
I thought we’d reached the worst part.
I was wrong.
The following morning, Margaret called.
“You both need to come to my office.”
We arrived just before eleven.
Vanessa was already there.
So was Detective Santos.
She looked completely shattered.
Her mascara was gone.
Her eyes were swollen.
When she saw Dad, she whispered,
“I’m sorry.”
He said nothing.
Margaret placed the battered metal lockbox on the conference table.
“This belonged to Elaine.”
Mom.
Dad frowned.
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