Chapter 19: The Promise Margaret Made
For severalFor several seconds, Margaret couldn't speak.
The words on seconds, Margaret couldn't speak.
The words on Catherine's photograph seemed to burn through the phone screen Catherine's photograph seemed to burn through the phone screen.
*Ask Margaret who she was protecting when Frank died.*
Peter slowly lowered the papers.
“Margaret, is there something you haven't told us?””
She.
*Ask Margaret who she was protecting when Frank died.*
Peter slowly lowered the papers.
“Margaret, is there something you haven't told us?””
She looked at Helen.
Her sister's face had gone pale.
“Please,” Helen whispered.
“Tell looked at Helen.
Her sister's face had gone pale.
“Please,” Helen whispered.
“Tell them.””
Daniel moved closer.
“Tell us what?””
Margaret pressed both hands against the table.
“Frank them.””
Daniel moved closer.
“Tell us what?””
Margaret pressed both hands against the table.
“Frank didn't die alone.””
Nobody moved.
She swallowed.
“Three years ago, on November twelfth, didn't die alone.””
Nobody moved.
She swallowed.
“Three years ago, on November twelfth, I came downstairs and found him on the floor in his study. His heart had stopped. I called an ambulance, but I came downstairs and found him on the floor in his study.
His heart had stopped. I called an ambulance, but it was too late.””
Daniel nodded slowly.
“We know he died that night.””
“What you don't know is it was too late.””
Daniel nodded slowly.
“We know he died that night.””
“What you don't know is that Richard was there.””
Peter's expression sharpened.
“Richard Whitmore?””
Margaret nodded.
“He had come that Richard was there.””
Peter's expression sharpened.
“Richard Whitmore?””
Margaret nodded.
“He had come to see Frank. They argued. I heard shouting, but I didn't go into the study immediately. I thought they were having another disagreement to see Frank.
They argued. I heard shouting, but I didn't go into the study immediately. I thought they were having another disagreement about the construction business.””
She closed her eyes.
“When I finally entered, Frank was on the floor. Richard was standing beside about the construction business.””
She closed her eyes.
“When I finally entered, Frank was on the floor. Richard was standing beside him, holding the telephone.””
Daniel looked stunned.
“Did Richard hurt him?””
“No. him, holding the telephone.””
Daniel looked stunned.
“Did Richard hurt him?””
“No. The doctors said Frank suffered a fatal heart attack. There was no evidence of an assault.””
“Then why hide that The doctors said Frank suffered a fatal heart attack. There was no evidence of an assault.””
“Then why hide that Richard was there?””
Margaret's eyes filled.
“Because Richard was terrified. He kept saying he'd killed his father. He said Richard was there?””
Margaret's eyes filled.
“Because Richard was terrified. He kept saying he'd killed his father. He said he'd shouted at Frank, called him a liar, and demanded money.
Frank had told him he knew about the missing he'd shouted at Frank, called him a liar, and demanded money. Frank had told him he knew about the missing funds and would report everything.””
She took a shaky breath.
“Richard begged me not to tell anyone funds and would report everything.””
She took a shaky breath.
“Richard begged me not to tell anyone he'd been there. He said the argument had caused Frank's heart attack. I knew that he'd been there. He said the argument had caused Frank's heart attack.
I knew that wasn't something anyone could prove, but I was afraid Richard would destroy himself with guilt. So I told the wasn't something anyone could prove, but I was afraid Richard would destroy himself with guilt. So I told the paramedics Frank had been alone.””
Peter looked troubled.
“Did you tell the police?””
“There was no criminal investigation. The doctor certified paramedics Frank had been alone.””
Peter looked troubled.
“Did you tell the police?””
“There was no criminal investigation. The doctor certified a natural death. I didn't think I was hiding a crime. I thought I was protecting my son.””
Daniel a natural death. I didn't think I was hiding a crime. I thought I was protecting my son.””
Daniel looked down.
“And Richard used that secret against you?””
Margaret looked down.
“And Richard used that secret against you?””
Margaret nodded.
“He knew I had lied. A few months after Frank died, Thomas began contacting him. Richard told me Thomas had proof that Frank's death wasn't natural. He threatened nodded.
“He knew I had lied. A few months after Frank died, Thomas began contacting him. Richard told me Thomas had proof that Frank's death wasn't natural. He threatened to make me look like a liar if I challenged the financial records.””
Cole clenched his jaw.
“So Thomas knew about the argument.””
“He to make me look like a liar if I challenged the financial records.””
Cole clenched his jaw.
“So Thomas knew about the argument.””
“He knew everything,” Margaret whispered.
“He used my love for Richard to keep me silent.””
Peter picked up the knew everything,” Margaret whispered.
“He used my love for Richard to keep me silent.””
Peter picked up the transfer record again.
“Then we need to understand Eleanor's payment. It may be connected to the transfer record again.
“Then we need to understand Eleanor's payment. It may be connected to the same secret.””
Margaret looked at the paper.
“Why would Frank write that warning?””
Ethan enlarged the photograph Catherine same secret.””
Margaret looked at the paper.
“Why would Frank write that warning?””
Ethan enlarged the photograph Catherine had sent.
“There's a reference number here. It looks like a trust account number, not a personal bank account.””
Peter studied it.
“That's possible. Eleanor may had sent.
“There's a reference number here. It looks like a trust account number, not a personal bank account.””
Peter studied it.
“That's possible. Eleanor may have received money as a trustee or intermediary.””
He took out his phone.
“I need have received money as a trustee or intermediary.””
He took out his phone.
“I need to speak to her directly.””
He called.
Eleanor answered on the second ring.
“Peter?””
“I'm with Margaret. to speak to her directly.””
He called.
Eleanor answered on the second ring.
“Peter?””
“I'm with Margaret. We have a bank transfer record from three years ago. Two hundred and fifty thousand dollars from Thomas Bell to your account.””
Silence.
Then Eleanor said, “Where We have a bank transfer record from three years ago. Two hundred and fifty thousand dollars from Thomas Bell to your account.””
Silence.
Then Eleanor said, “Where did you get that?””
“Catherine Bell found it in Frank's papers.””
Eleanor exhaled sharply.
“ did you get that?””
“Catherine Bell found it in Frank's papers.””
Eleanor exhaled sharply.
“Then Thomas kept the copy.””
“DidThen Thomas kept the copy.””
“Did you receive the money?””
“Yes.””
Margaret closed her eyes.
Eleanor continued.
“But it wasn't payment for concealing a will you receive the money?””
“Yes.””
Margaret closed her eyes.
Eleanor continued.
“But it wasn't payment for concealing a will.””
Peter's voice hardened.
“What was it for?””
“To protect Helen and secure her care after.””
Peter's voice hardened.
“What was it for?””
“To protect Helen and secure her care after Thomas threatened to have her declared incompetent again. Frank had established an emergency fund. Thomas intercepted Thomas threatened to have her declared incompetent again.
Frank had established an emergency fund. Thomas intercepted the first transfer and insisted that the money pass through me because he controlled the account where it originated.””
Peter looked the first transfer and insisted that the money pass through me because he controlled the account where it originated.””
Peter looked at Margaret.
“Do you have documentation?””
“I have everything. Frank instructed me to keep the at Margaret.
“Do you have documentation?””
“I have everything. Frank instructed me to keep the account separate. I never spent a dollar personally.””
“Why didn't you tell account separate. I never spent a dollar personally.””
“Why didn't you tell Margaret?””
Eleanor's voice softened.
“Because Frank asked me not to reveal Helen's location until Margaret was Margaret?””
Eleanor's voice softened.
“Because Frank asked me not to reveal Helen's location until Margaret was ready. He believed Thomas would use her as leverage.””
Margaret took the phone.
“Eleanor, what about the second will?””
ready. He believed Thomas would use her as leverage.””
Margaret took the phone.
“Eleanor, what about the second will?””
“I never concealed it from you. I kept it sealed until the conditions Frank“I never concealed it from you. I kept it sealed until the conditions Frank specified were met. Thomas knew about the will, but he never had control over it.””
“Then why did Frank write that warning?””
Eleanor was quiet.
“ specified were met. Thomas knew about the will, but he never had control over it.””
“Then why did Frank write that warning?””
Eleanor was quiet.
“Because he knew Thomas would eventually create a false record to make it look as though I had betrayed him. He told me thatBecause he knew Thomas would eventually create a false record to make it look as though I had betrayed him. He told me that if you ever saw the transfer, you would need to ask yourself what you were protecting when he died.””
Marg if you ever saw the transfer, you would need to ask yourself what you were protecting when he died.””
Margaret's voice broke.
“I was protecting Richard.””
“I know.””
“And I let Thomas use that secret against me.””
Eleanor answeredaret's voice broke.
“I was protecting Richard.””
“I know.””
“And I let Thomas use that secret against me.””
Eleanor answered gently.
“Frank knew you were frightened. He didn't blame you.””
Daniel took the phone.
“Eleanor, did gently.
“Frank knew you were frightened. He didn't blame you.””
Daniel took the phone.
“Eleanor, did Frank know Thomas had stolen the children?””
“Yes. And he knew Thomas had manipulated Richard. That's why he prepared the second will and Frank know Thomas had stolen the children?””
“Yes. And he knew Thomas had manipulated Richard. That's why he prepared the second will and the investigation file.””
“Did he know about Catherine?””
“Yes.””
Margaret stared at the table.
“Then the investigation file.””
“Did he know about Catherine?””
“Yes.””
Margaret stared at the table.
“Then why didn't he tell me the truth?””
Eleanor's answer came slowly.
“Because Frank believed he could bring Catherine why didn't he tell me the truth?””
Eleanor's answer came slowly.
“Because Frank believed he could bring Catherine home safely. He wanted to tell you himself, after he had secured Helen and exposed Thomas. He ran home safely.
He wanted to tell you himself, after he had secured Helen and exposed Thomas. He ran out of time.””
Margaret covered her face.
For three years, she'd thought Frank had left her with unanswered out of time.””
Margaret covered her face.
For three years, she'd thought Frank had left her with unanswered questions.
Now she understood that he'd been trying to bring an entire family back together.
And he'd died before questions.
Now she understood that he'd been trying to bring an entire family back together.
And he'd died before he could finish.
A notification appeared on Peter's phone.
He read it, then looked up.
“Thomas has been arrested.””
Daniel he could finish.
A notification appeared on Peter's phone.
He read it, then looked up.
“Thomas has been arrested.””
Daniel stood.
“For what?””
“Financial fraud, suspected forgery, and violations connected to Helen stood.
“For what?””
“Financial fraud, suspected forgery, and violations connected to Helen's guardianship. The authorities have also received the recordings Ethan provided.””
Margaret released a breath she hadn't realized she was holding.
But Peter's guardianship. The authorities have also received the recordings Ethan provided.””
Margaret released a breath she hadn't realized she was holding.
But Peter wasn't finished.
“There's another development. Thomas's attorney has wasn't finished.
“There's another development. Thomas's attorney has contacted the court. He claims Catherine's adoption was valid and that she has no legal connection to the Whitmore estate.””
Margaret contacted the court. He claims Catherine's adoption was valid and that she has no legal connection to the Whitmore estate.””
Margaret frowned.
“She is Frank's daughter.””
Peter nodded.
“And we have evidence to support that. But there is one frowned.
“She is Frank's daughter.””
Peter nodded.
“And we have evidence to support that. But there is one document we haven't seen yet.””
“What document?””
“The original adoption consent.””
Catherine's document we haven't seen yet.””
“What document?””
“The original adoption consent.””
Catherine's voice came through the phone.
“I think I know where it is.””
Everyone turned toward the speaker.
“Thomas kept it in his old house,” she continued.
“ voice came through the phone.
“I think I know where it is.””
Everyone turned toward the speaker.
“Thomas kept it in his old house,” she continued.
“There's a locked cabinet in the basement. Lorraine told me never to open it.””
Daniel looked at Marcus.
“ThenThere's a locked cabinet in the basement. Lorraine told me never to open it.””
Daniel looked at Marcus.
“Then we go there.””
Peter shook his head.
“Not without legal authority. The house has we go there.””
Peter shook his head.
“Not without legal authority. The house has a new owner, and we cannot simply enter.””
Catherine hesitated.
“There's something else. a new owner, and we cannot simply enter.””
Catherine hesitated.
“There's something else. Lorraine gave me a key before she died. She said if Thomas ever tried to hurt my family again, I should open the cabinet.””
Margaret looked at the Lorraine gave me a key before she died. She said if Thomas ever tried to hurt my family again, I should open the cabinet.””
Margaret looked at the phone.
“Catherine, can you come to Ohio?””
“I can be there tomorrow morning.””
phone.
“Catherine, can you come to Ohio?””
“I can be there tomorrow morning.””
Margaret's eyes filled.
“I've waited forty-six years to meet you. I can wait one more night.””
CatherineMargaret's eyes filled.
“I've waited forty-six years to meet you. I can wait one more night.””
Catherine began to cry.
“I'm coming, Mom.””
Margaret held the phone against her heart.
For the first time, she began to cry.
“I'm coming, Mom.””
Margaret held the phone against her heart.
For the first time, she had heard one of her daughters call her that.
Then Catherine whispered:
“There's a name on the adoption consent that I had heard one of her daughters call her that.
Then Catherine whispered:
“There's a name on the adoption consent that I think you'll recognize.””
“What name?””
“It's not Thomas's.””
She paused.
“It's Richard Whitmore think you'll recognize.””
“What name?””
“It's not Thomas's.””
May you like
She paused.
“It's Richard Whitmore.””
