Chapter 7: The Woman Outside the Estate
Daniel ran through the ballroom doors so quickly that his umbrella fell to the floor.
"Emily!"" he shouted.
Graham immediately followed him.
I stood frozen for half a second, then grabbed Lily's hand.
"Stay beside me. Don't let go.""
My daughter nodded.
Behind us, Vanessa began shouting.
"Someone stop them! They can't just leave!""
Nobody listened.
My mother remained beside the head table, gripping the edge so tightly her knuckles had turned white.
I looked at her.
"Who is Emily?""
She didn't answer.
"Mom, I'm asking you a question.""
Patricia finally raised her eyes.
"Someone your father should never have trusted.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"Why?""
"Because she destroyed this family.""
I almost laughed.
My mother had just been exposed for helping steal millions from her own granddaughter, yet somehow she still believed she was the victim.
"You're going to have to do better than that.""
She stepped closer.
"Claire, listen to me. Whatever Daniel tells you, remember that he wasn't there when your father was dying. I was. I was the one who stayed beside him.""
"So you think that gives you the right to steal from Lily?""
Her lips trembled.
"I did what I had to do.""
Before I could answer, a security guard approached.
"Ma'am, there's a disturbance near the east entrance.""
I looked toward the doors.
"Where?""
"An older woman was found outside the gate. She appears to have fallen.""
My heart started racing.
"Is she conscious?""
"I believe so.""
I hurried outside with Lily.
The November air was cold, and the wet stone walkway reflected the estate's golden lights.
Daniel was kneeling beside a woman near the security booth.
She looked to be in her late fifties. Her dark hair was streaked with gray, and one sleeve of her coat was torn.
Graham was speaking to a security guard.
"Call an ambulance. Now.""
Daniel looked up when he saw me.
"Claire.""
"Is she Emily?""
He nodded.
The woman opened her eyes.
For several seconds, she stared at me.
Then her expression crumpled.
"Oh, Robert's little girl.""
I knelt beside her.
"You knew my father?""
She nodded.
"Very well.""
"Who are you?""
"Emily Carter. I worked for your father for eleven years.""
Daniel helped her sit up.
"Emily, you said you found the recording.""
She reached inside her coat and pulled out a small silver pendant.
"I didn't bring it.""
Daniel frowned.
"What?""
"They took the original drive.""
Graham looked around.
"Who took it?""
Emily glanced toward the estate.
"Richard Ellison's security people.""
My blood ran cold.
"Richard is here?""
"No," Emily whispered.
"But he knows I found the evidence.""
She turned toward me.
"Claire, you need to understand something. Your father didn't just suspect your mother and sister. He discovered that they had been working with someone outside the family.""
"Richard?""
Emily nodded.
"He was involved from the beginning.""
Graham clenched his jaw.
"My father told me he barely knew Patricia.""
Emily gave a tired laugh.
"Richard was meeting Patricia months before Robert died. He wanted access to the Bennett properties. Your father refused to sell.""
I looked at Daniel.
"Why?""
"Because those properties were intended for you and Lily.""
Emily continued.
"Your father discovered that Richard had been purchasing distressed properties through shell companies. He was using borrowed money to buy land cheaply, then reselling it through connected companies.""
Graham shook his head.
"That's how my father built his development business.""
"Exactly.""
Emily looked at him.
"Your father needed access to the Bennett properties to complete one of his largest developments.""
Graham stared at her.
"What development?""
"The Harbor Point project.""
Graham's expression changed.
I recognized the name.
Even I had heard of Harbor Point. It was a massive waterfront redevelopment project that had been advertised throughout Rhode Island.
A luxury hotel.
Private residences.
A shopping promenade.
Richard Ellison's biggest project.
Emily reached for my hand.
"Your father owned the land beneath the original development plans. Richard couldn't legally build what he wanted without obtaining those properties.""
I stared at her.
"Are you saying he stole them?""
"Not all of them. Some were transferred through companies. Others were tied up in disputed loans. But your father had refused to sign the final sale agreement.""
Daniel looked furious.
"Which is why Robert created the trust.""
Emily nodded.
"He knew they would try to get around him after his death.""
I looked down at Lily.
She was listening carefully.
I wished she weren't.
"Mommy," she whispered.
"Is that why Aunt Vanessa was angry when I found the papers?""
I swallowed.
"Maybe, sweetheart.""
Emily looked at her.
"You're Lily?""
My daughter nodded.
Emily smiled sadly.
"Your grandfather talked about you before you were born.""
Lily looked surprised.
"He did?""
"Every time I visited his office, he showed me the little photograph your mother had sent him.""
My eyes filled.
Emily continued.
"He said you were going to be the most important person in Claire's life.""
Lily leaned closer.
"Did he say anything else?""
Emily's smile faded.
"Yes. He said he wanted you to grow up knowing that your family could never decide your worth.""
I looked away.
I couldn't hold back my tears.
Then Emily gripped my wrist.
"Claire, there's something else.""
"What?""
"The original trust documents aren't the only evidence. Your father left a recorded statement.""
Daniel leaned forward.
"Where?""
Emily looked at the silver pendant in her palm.
"Inside this.""
She opened it.
A tiny memory card was hidden beneath the photograph.
"I copied the recording before they took the original drive.""
Graham stared.
"Does it contain the evidence against Richard?""
"Yes. And something much worse.""
Emily looked toward the ballroom.
"Your father recorded a conversation with Patricia three days before he died.""
My mother.
I felt sick.
"What did they discuss?""
Emily hesitated.
"Your father asked her why she had requested a copy of Claire's medical records.""
I couldn't move.
"What?""
Emily nodded.
"He suspected she was planning to use your medical condition to challenge your ability to manage the trust.""
My hands began trembling.
"She wanted to say I was an unfit mother?""
Emily lowered her eyes.
"She wanted to argue that you were incapable of managing your daughter's inheritance.""
I stared at the estate.
My mother had insulted me in front of three hundred people.
She had watched Vanessa take money from Lily.
And apparently, she had once considered using the most vulnerable moment of my life to take my child away from me.
Graham turned toward the security guard.
"Has anyone entered the property since we came outside?""
The guard checked his radio.
"One vehicle just arrived at the west gate.""
"What vehicle?""
"A black SUV.""
Emily suddenly began shaking.
"That's them.""
Daniel stood.
"Get Claire and Lily inside.""
But before anyone could move, a man's voice came from behind us.
"Good evening, everyone.""
We turned.
A silver-haired man in an expensive black overcoat stood beneath the entrance lights.
Graham's face went pale.
"Dad?""
Richard Ellison smiled.
Then his eyes settled on Emily.
"Well," he said calmly, "I see you brought the evidence.""
He looked at me.
"And you must be Claire.""
He extended his hand.
"Your father and I had an unfortunate disagreement.""
I didn't take it.
Richard lowered his hand.
"Perhaps we can settle this without making a spectacle.""
Daniel stepped in front of him.
"You're too late, Richard.""
Richard's smile disappeared.
He glanced at the pendant in Emily's hand.
Then he looked at Lily.
May you like
And said something that made every muscle in my body tighten.
"That little girl has absolutely no idea what her grandfather's final decision means for her.""
