Chapter 10: The Visitor Who Came Before My Husband Died
For several seconds, I couldn't move.
Thomas Whitmore stood less than ten feet away from me.
My husband's younger brother.
The man who had delivered the eulogy at Richard's funeral.
The man who had hugged my son and promised to protect our family.
The man who had just been identified by Richard's cardiologist as the person who brought him medication on the night he died.
I slowly lowered my phone.
Daniel was staring at me.
"Mom?""
I swallowed.
"Dr. Bennett says your uncle was at the hospital the night your father died.""
Thomas immediately stepped forward.
"That's ridiculous.""
I looked directly at him.
"He says you brought Richard his medication.""
Thomas laughed.
"Of course I did. I was his brother. I visited him regularly.""
Daniel's voice cracked.
"You never told us that.""
"Because it wasn't important.""
"Then why are you denying it now?""
Thomas looked at the police officers.
"This woman is clearly having some kind of breakdown. She's been accusing everyone in the family since this morning.""
I held up my phone.
"The doctor also says Richard was poisoned.""
Thomas stopped smiling.
It lasted only a second.
But it was enough.
Daniel noticed.
"Uncle Thomas?""
Thomas adjusted his cuff.
"I don't know what that doctor is talking about.""
I pressed the phone against my ear again.
"Dr. Bennett, are you still there?""
"Yes, Mrs. Whitmore.""
"Can you tell the officers what you told me?""
"Certainly. But I need to be careful. The medical records were sealed after your husband's death.""
"Why?""
"Because someone requested that they remain confidential.""
"Who?""
The doctor hesitated.
Then he answered.
"Thomas Whitmore.""
Daniel stepped backward as if someone had struck him.
Thomas raised his voice.
"That is enough!""
One of the officers moved between us.
"Sir, I need you to remain calm.""
Thomas pointed at me.
"She has no idea what she's doing. She's dragging a dead man's name through the mud because she doesn't like her son's fiancée.""
I stared at him.
"You've had eleven years to tell me the truth.""
He shook his head.
"Richard was sick. He was taking experimental medication. His condition deteriorated. That's what happened.""
"Then why was his medication changed the night he died?""
Thomas's face tightened.
I continued.
"Why did you ask the hospital to seal the records?""
He said nothing.
Daniel approached him.
"Tell me you didn't hurt Dad.""
Thomas looked at his nephew.
For a moment, I thought he might finally confess.
Instead, he said something that made Daniel's face collapse.
"Your father was already dying. I simply stopped him from making things worse.""
I felt the air leave my lungs.
"What did you do?""
Thomas closed his eyes.
Then he opened them.
"Richard had become obsessed. He wanted to expose everyone involved in his financial arrangements. He was threatening to destroy the foundation, the family business, and anyone who had helped him.""
"That doesn't answer my question.""
"He was going to send everything to the authorities.""
Daniel's voice rose.
"So you killed him?""
Thomas looked at him.
"I protected this family.""
The officer immediately stepped forward.
"Mr. Whitmore, I need you to stop speaking and come with us.""
Thomas didn't resist.
But as the officers escorted him toward the entrance, he turned around.
"Ask your mother what she signed after Richard died.""
I frowned.
"What?""
He smiled coldly.
"Ask her about the inheritance documents.""
Then he was gone.
Daniel stood motionless.
I reached for his shoulder.
"Daniel...""
He moved away.
"What did he mean?""
"I don't know.""
"Mom, stop.""
His voice was trembling.
"Please don't tell me you don't know. Not after everything we've just heard.""
I looked at him.
"After your father died, I signed dozens of documents. Estate transfers, insurance forms, foundation authorizations. I was barely functioning.""
"Did you sign something transferring control of the foundation?""
I thought back.
There had been a meeting with the family attorney three days after Richard's funeral.
Thomas had arranged it.
He'd brought a stack of documents and explained that certain administrative changes were necessary.
I'd signed everything.
My stomach tightened.
"I might have.""
Daniel closed his eyes.
"Then maybe Thomas was right about one thing.""
"What?""
"Maybe you really don't know what's been happening in this family.""
He walked toward the staircase.
I wanted to stop him, but I couldn't find the words.
A few minutes later, Margaret entered the library.
Her face was pale.
"Mrs. Whitmore, the police have taken Mr. Thomas.""
I nodded.
"Thank you, Margaret.""
She glanced at Daniel's retreating figure.
"Is everything all right?""
"No.""
I looked down at the ledger.
"Margaret, I need you to help me find the original estate documents from eleven years ago.""
She nodded.
"I'll bring them immediately.""
Then she hesitated.
"Mrs. Whitmore?""
"Yes?""
"There's something else you should know.""
I looked up.
Margaret reached into her pocket and removed a small white envelope.
"I found this in your office this afternoon. It was hidden behind the bottom drawer.""
My hands went cold.
"What's inside?""
"I haven't opened it.""
I took the envelope.
My name was written on the front.
Not in Richard's handwriting.
In Thomas's.
Inside was a single photocopied document.
It was an authorization allowing Thomas Whitmore to exercise temporary control over the Whitmore Family Foundation following Richard's death.
At the bottom was my signature.
But beneath it was a second signature.
Daniel's.
My son had been twenty-one when Richard died.
He hadn't been present at the attorney's meeting.
He hadn't signed anything.
I stared at the document.
Then I noticed the date.
The authorization had been signed two days before Richard died.
Which meant someone had prepared it while my husband was still alive.
And someone had forged both our signatures.
I called Daniel back into the library.
When he saw the document, he stopped at the doorway.
"That's not my signature.""
"I know.""
He examined the date.
Then he looked at me.
"Mom, Dad knew.""
"What?""
"He knew someone was going to take control of the foundation.""
I looked at the signature.
And suddenly I understood why Thomas had been so desperate to retrieve the ledger.
Richard hadn't just documented the theft.
May you like
He had documented a plan to take everything from us.
And the plan had begun before his death.
