Chapter 10: The Man Who Returned for the Key
Eleanor's phone slipped slightly in her hand.
"Daniel is inside the property?"" she repeated.
"Yes, ma'am. He entered through the east gate. He says he has an appointment with you.""
Eleanor looked directly at Nick.
"Tell security not to let him leave.""
The employee hesitated.
"Mrs. Whitmore, he says he's representing the Carter family.""
Richard let out a bitter laugh.
"He's representing himself.""
Nick stepped toward the office door.
"I'm going to meet him.""
The investigator immediately blocked his path.
"You're not going anywhere alone. We need to handle this properly.""
Nick stopped.
I could see the anger in his face, but he nodded.
A few minutes later, we watched the security cameras as Daniel walked through the entrance hall.
He wore the same gray suit he'd worn outside our apartment.
His black briefcase was in his right hand.
He looked completely calm.
Too calm.
When he entered the office, Eleanor was waiting beside the desk.
"Daniel.""
"Mrs. Whitmore.""
He looked around.
His eyes stopped briefly on the laptop displaying the old security footage.
Then he smiled.
"I see you've been reviewing your husband's records.""
Eleanor folded her arms.
"Why are you here?""
"I came to collect a document that belongs to my client.""
"Which client?""
"Martha Carter.""
Nick stepped into view.
"Funny. My mother hasn't mentioned you were coming.""
Daniel's expression barely changed.
"Nicholas. I was hoping we could avoid another confrontation.""
"You should have thought about that before you helped my mother steal from my grandmother.""
Daniel placed his briefcase on the desk.
"Those are serious accusations.""
"Then explain why you were in my grandfather's study the night he died.""
For the first time, Daniel's confidence faltered.
He glanced toward the investigator.
"I don't believe this conversation is appropriate without my attorney.""
The investigator stepped forward.
"Mr. Reeves, we're investigating a suspected financial fraud and a possible unauthorized entry into a private residence. We'd like to ask you some questions.""
Daniel straightened his jacket.
"Of course. I have nothing to hide.""
Nick pointed toward the monitor.
"Then explain that.""
The investigator played the recording.
Daniel watched himself enter James's office.
He watched Martha arrive.
He watched the argument.
And finally, he watched himself take the small silver key from the envelope.
His jaw tightened.
When the footage ended, the investigator asked, "What was the key for?""
Daniel adjusted his cuff.
"I don't recall.""
Nick laughed in disbelief.
"You don't recall taking something from a dying man's desk?""
"Mr. Carter, I have represented numerous clients over the years.""
"That's not an answer.""
Daniel turned toward the investigator.
"I would like to speak with my attorney.""
The investigator nodded.
"That's your right.""
But before Daniel could leave, Eleanor opened the visitor ledger.
"You entered this property under false pretenses. You told security you had an appointment with me. I never authorized it.""
Daniel looked toward the entrance.
Two security officers had appeared in the hallway.
He slowly picked up his briefcase.
"I'll be leaving now.""
The investigator stepped aside but asked him to remain available for further questioning.
Daniel walked toward the door.
Then he stopped.
He looked directly at Helen.
"Mrs. Carter, you should be careful about what you believe.""
Helen didn't answer.
Daniel continued.
"James wasn't the innocent man you remember.""
Helen stood.
"Don't you dare speak about my husband.""
Daniel gave her a cold smile.
"You have no idea what he was preparing to do.""
Nick stepped forward.
"What does that mean?""
Daniel didn't respond.
He simply walked out.
The investigator followed him.
We all stood in silence until Eleanor locked the office door.
Then Helen slowly approached the desk.
"He's lying.""
Richard put an arm around her.
"I hope so.""
Helen shook her head.
"No. I mean he's hiding something. James would never have willingly given Martha control of the house.""
Nick looked at the safe beneath the desk.
"Then we need to find that key.""
The investigator returned a few minutes later.
He informed us that Daniel had agreed to provide a statement later that day.
However, there was a problem.
The security footage showed him removing the key, but nobody had recovered it.
We searched the office.
The desk drawers.
The cabinets.
The carpet.
Nothing.
Then I remembered something from the recording.
Daniel had placed his briefcase on the desk before removing the key.
When he left, he was carrying the same briefcase.
I looked at Nick.
"He put it in his pocket.""
Nick nodded.
"Yes.""
"Could he still have it?""
The investigator considered the possibility.
"We'll look into that.""
Helen moved toward the desk.
"There's another way.""
She knelt carefully and reached beneath the lowest drawer.
Her fingers found a small metal latch.
She pulled it.
A narrow compartment opened.
Inside was a folded piece of paper.
Helen removed it.
It was a handwritten note from James.
She read it aloud.
The key is not the only way to open the safe. If the person who takes it is someone I trusted, they will never think to look beneath the clock.
Eleanor looked toward the large wooden clock standing in the corner.
Nick walked over.
He carefully removed the clock's lower panel.
Behind it was a small brass key.
Helen began crying.
"James.""
Nick took the key and examined the safe.
It was built into the bottom of the desk, hidden behind a wooden panel.
The lock turned.
Inside were three items.
A small cassette recorder.
A sealed envelope.
And a photograph.
Nick picked up the photograph.
It showed James standing outside a hospital.
Beside him was a young woman holding a baby.
Helen stared at it.
"That's...""
She couldn't finish.
Richard took the photograph.
"Who is the woman?""
Helen looked at the back.
A date was written there.
And beneath it was a name.
*Laura Whitmore.*
Eleanor's expression changed.
"Whitmore?""
Helen nodded.
"James never told me about this photograph.""
Nick picked up the sealed envelope.
His name was written across the front.
But there was another line underneath.
To be opened only after the truth about Laura is known.
Nick turned toward Helen.
"Who is Laura?""
Helen looked at the photograph again.
May you like
Then she whispered:
"She's the reason your grandfather changed the inheritance agreement.""
