Chapter 8: The Woman Who Knew Frank's Secret

The drive to Eleanor Price's home took twenty-three minutes.

Marcus drove Margaret's sedan while Daniel followed with the others.

Vanessa and Lily rode with Cole.

Peter Walsh had insisted on coming along.

He said Margaret needed an independent legal witness.

But Ethan noticed something else.

Peter kept checking his phone.

Every few minutes, he would look at the screen, frown, and put it away.

Finally, Ethan asked him directly.

“Who are you texting?””

Peter looked up.

“Nobody.””

“That's twice you've said that tonight.””

Peter sighed.

“I'm trying to reach a colleague.””

“About what?””

“Professional advice.””

Ethan watched him for another moment.

“Then why do you look like you're expecting bad news?””

Peter didn't answer.

At Eleanor's house, warm light spilled through the windows.

A wreath hung on the front door.

The smell of roasted vegetables and cinnamon drifted through the open doorway when a woman answered their knock.

She was in her late seventies, with silver hair, a straight back, and sharp blue eyes.

“Peter Walsh?””

“Good evening, Eleanor.””

She looked past him.

Then her gaze landed on Margaret.

Her expression changed immediately.

“Margaret Whitmore?””

Margaret nodded.

“I'm sorry to disturb you on Thanksgiving.””

Eleanor stepped forward and took both her hands.

“My goodness. I've been wondering when you'd come.””

Margaret blinked.

“You've been waiting for me?””

Eleanor glanced at Peter.

Then at the group behind him.

“Come inside. All of you.””

The living room was crowded with family photographs and old books.

Eleanor led them to a quiet study and closed the door.

She asked Margaret to sit.

Then she looked at the metal box.

“Did you find Frank's letter?””

Margaret nodded.

“And the recorder.””

Eleanor closed her eyes.

“Oh, Frank.””

Margaret leaned forward.

“You knew?””

“I knew he was frightened. I didn't know how far Richard would go.””

Margaret stared at her.

“Please tell me what happened.””

Eleanor sat across from her.

“Three months before Frank died, he came to my office with several bank statements. He believed someone had been withdrawing money from a family investment account.””

“Richard?””

Eleanor nodded.

“He initially thought there had been a bookkeeping mistake. But when we traced the transactions, we discovered that the withdrawals had been authorized using forged documents.””

Margaret covered her mouth.

“Why didn't Frank tell me?””

“He was trying to gather enough evidence before confronting Richard. He was afraid your son would pressure you into signing something.””

Marcus leaned forward.

“Did Frank make another will?””

“Yes.””

Eleanor stood and opened a locked filing cabinet.

She removed a thick envelope bearing Frank's full name.

“This was deposited with my firm eleven days before he died.””

Margaret stared at it.

“Why didn't you contact me?””

“I tried. Richard called my office after the funeral and told me you were too distressed to receive legal correspondence. He claimed he had your permission to handle your affairs.””

Margaret's face tightened.

“I never gave him permission.””

“I know that now.””

Eleanor placed the envelope on the desk.

“Frank included instructions that I was not to release this document until you appeared in person with proof of identity.””

Margaret reached for it.

But Eleanor held it for a moment.

“Before you open it, there's something you should know. Frank also left a sealed statement concerning Richard's birth.””

The room went silent.

Lily looked at her grandmother.

Vanessa lowered her eyes.

Margaret whispered, “What does that mean?””

Eleanor glanced toward Vanessa.

“Your husband discovered that the circumstances surrounding Richard's birth certificate were not what he had been told.””

Margaret looked confused.

“Frank was Richard's father.””

Eleanor nodded.

“He believed he was. Until he discovered an adoption record.””

Margaret stared at her.

“No. That's impossible.””

Eleanor spoke gently.

“Frank was not accusing Richard of doing anything wrong. He wanted to understand why the records had been altered.””

Lily looked at Vanessa.

“Mom?””

Vanessa began crying.

Eleanor continued.

“Frank believed someone had deliberately concealed Richard's biological parentage. He hired a private investigator shortly before his death.””

Marcus exchanged a glance with Ethan.

“This is getting bigger than the house.””

Eleanor nodded.

“It always was.””

Margaret slowly opened the envelope.

Inside was the second will.

The document was signed, witnessed, and dated.

Eleanor pointed to the final pages.

“Frank changed several provisions. He left the house entirely to you, Margaret. He also created a protected trust for Lily's education and future.””

Lily's eyes widened.

“For me?””

Margaret nodded through tears.

“He thought of you.””

Eleanor continued.

“But the most important provision concerns the missing investment account.””

She turned to a paragraph.

“Frank placed the entire account under an independent trust. Neither Richard nor any other family member can withdraw from it without your consent.””

Margaret looked at the balance.

The amount was $642,318.

Her hands shook.

“That's our money.””

“Yes,” Eleanor replied.

“And Frank specifically instructed that it be used to ensure you could live independently for the rest of your life.””

Margaret began crying.

Marcus placed a hand gently on her shoulder.

Then Eleanor opened another envelope.

“This is the statement Frank recorded before his death.””

She pressed a button on a small device.

Frank's voice filled the room.

“Margaret, if you're hearing this, then Eleanor has confirmed everything.””

A pause.

“I need you to know that I love you. I love Richard, too, even if he has made terrible choices.””

Margaret covered her mouth.

“But there's something I discovered that I never had the courage to tell you.””

The recording crackled.

“Richard is not our biological son.””

Vanessa began sobbing.

Lily stared at her mother.

Frank continued.

“We adopted him when he was six months old. We were told his biological parents had died in an accident. But the investigator found evidence that one of them may still be alive.””

Margaret's face went blank.

“Alive?””

Eleanor stopped the recording.

“Frank wanted to tell you himself. But he died before he could.””

Margaret looked at the lawyer.

“Who is Richard's biological father?””

Eleanor opened a thin folder.

She removed a photograph of a young man standing beside a woman holding a baby.

Margaret recognized the woman.

It was her younger sister.

Helen.

Her sister had died when Richard was still a baby.

Or so Margaret had believed.

Eleanor placed the photograph on the desk.

“There's something else. The investigator located Helen's old medical records.””

Margaret's breathing became shallow.

“My sister was dead.””

Eleanor shook her head.

“No, Margaret. Helen was very much alive when Frank adopted Richard.””

Vanessa looked at Eleanor.

“Tell her the rest.””

Eleanor hesitated.

Then she turned the photograph over.

Written on the back were four words.

Helen. Thomas. Their son. Richard.

Margaret stared at the writing.

Thomas Bell.

The accountant.

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