A former legal Grant Mercer, and investigators were seeking the necessary authorization to examine its contents.

There was also a development involving the missing amendment.

A former legal clerk had contacted the detective after seeing the report. She claimed that, several years earlier, she had copied a document from my mother's estate file at the request of an unidentified woman.

The clerk had kept a handwritten note recording the date and the recipient's initials.

Michael listened clerk had contacted the detective after seeing the report. She claimed that, several years earlier, she had copied a document from my mother's estate file at the request of an unidentified woman.

The clerk had kept a handwritten note recording the date and the recipient's initials.

Michael listened carefully.

Then he asked, “What were the initials?””

The answer made him go silent.

He ended the call and turned toward Dad.

“The clerk remembers the carefully.

Then he asked, “What were the initials?””

The answer made him go silent.

He ended the call and turned toward Dad.

“The clerk remembers the initials V.B.””

Dad stared at him.

“Vanessa Bennett?””

Michael nodded.

“She says the woman collected the copy in person.””

I felt my stomach drop.

Vanessa hadn't merely stumbled into Grant's scheme.

She had sought out initials V.B.””

Dad stared at him.

“Vanessa Bennett?””

Michael nodded.

“She says the woman collected the copy in person.””

I felt my stomach drop.

Vanessa hadn't merely stumbled into Grant's scheme.

She had sought out my mother's private legal records years before the attempted transfer.

And if the clerk was telling the truth, she'd been investigating the trust long before she married my father.

Then my phone rang.

An unfamiliar number appeared on the screen.

I answered cautiously.

A my mother's private legal records years before the attempted transfer.

And if the clerk was telling the truth, she'd been investigating the trust long before she married my father.

Then my phone rang.

An unfamiliar number appeared on the screen.

I answered cautiously.

A woman's voice spoke.

“Emily Bennett? My name is Eleanor Mercer. I understand you've been asking questions about your mother.””

I gripped the phone.

“How did you get my number?””

“Because your stepmother has woman's voice spoke.

“Emily Bennett? My name is Eleanor Mercer. I understand you've been asking questions about your mother.””

I gripped the phone.

“How did you get my number?””

“Because your stepmother has been trying to reach me all morning.””

My pulse quickened.

“What do you know about my mother?””

Eleanor took a shaky breath.

“More than I ever wanted to know. And if been trying to reach me all morning.””

My pulse quickened.

“What do you know about my mother?””

Eleanor took a shaky breath.

“More than I ever wanted to know. And if you're going to marry Daniel today, there's something you need to hear first.””

I glanced at the ivory dress hanging in the suite.

“What?””

Her answer came in a whisper.

“Your mother discovered that Grant was using her trust to hide money before she you're going to marry Daniel today, there's something you need to hear first.””

I glanced at the ivory dress hanging in the suite.

“What?””

Her answer came in a whisper.

“Your mother discovered that Grant was using her trust to hide money before she died.””

Chapter 12: Eleanor Mercer's Confession

Eleanor Mercer agreed to meet us at a café near the hotel.

Michael insisted that Detective Harris be informed, died.””:

Eleanor Mercer agreed to meet us at a café near the hotel.

Michael insisted that Detective Harris be informed, and the detective arranged to have an investigator present nearby. Eleanor had initially wanted to speak to me alone, but after hearing about the attempted transfer and the missing amendment, she agreed to meet with all of us.

When she entered the and the detective arranged to have an investigator present nearby. Eleanor had initially wanted to speak to me alone, but after hearing about the attempted transfer and the missing amendment, she agreed to meet with all of us.

When she entered the café, I recognized the family resemblance immediately.

She had Grant's narrow face and pale eyes, but her expression was softer. She looked to be in her late sixties, with silver hair tucked behind her café, I recognized the family resemblance immediately.

She had Grant's narrow face and pale eyes, but her expression was softer. She looked to be in her late sixties, with silver hair tucked behind her ears and a dark coat buttoned to the throat.

She stopped when she saw me.

“You look like your mother,” she whispered.

I didn't know how to respond.

Instead, I pulled out a chair.

“Please sit down.””

Eleanor placed a leather folder ears and a dark coat buttoned to the throat.

She stopped when she saw me.

“You look like your mother,” she whispered.

I didn't know how to respond.

Instead, I pulled out a chair.

“Please sit down.””

Eleanor placed a leather folder on the table but kept one hand over it.

“I need you to understand something before I tell you anything else. I did not want your mother to die.””

Dad's face hardened.

“Why would you say that?””

“Because I know what people will assume when they on the table but kept one hand over it.

“I need you to understand something before I tell you anything else. I did not want your mother to die.””

Dad's face hardened.

“Why would you say that?””

“Because I know what people will assume when they learn about the money.””

Michael spoke calmly.

“Mrs. Mercer, we need facts. What was your relationship with Emily's mother?””

Eleanor looked at me.

“My name is Eleanor Mercer. Before Grant became involved in learn about the money.””

Michael spoke calmly.

“Mrs. Mercer, we need facts. What was your relationship with Emily's mother?””

Eleanor looked at me.

“My name is Eleanor Mercer. Before Grant became involved in real estate financing, I worked as an accountant. I met your mother through a charitable foundation that supported families dealing with serious illness.””

real estate financing, I worked as an accountant. I met your mother through a charitable foundation that supported families dealing with serious illness.””

“My mother was involved in a charity?””

“She volunteered whenever she could. Even during treatment, she insisted on reviewing the foundation's accounts because she didn't trust people who refused“My mother was involved in a charity?””

“She volunteered whenever she could. Even during treatment, she insisted on reviewing the foundation's accounts because she didn't trust people who refused to explain where the money went.””

A faint, painful smile crossed Eleanor's face.

“That was your mother. She could be exhausted and still notice a missing dollar.””

Dad looked down.

I remembered my mother checking restaurant bills twice and teaching me to save receipts. At the time, I had thought it was simply a habit.

Eleanor opened to explain where the money went.””

A faint, painful smile crossed Eleanor's face.

“That was your mother. She could be exhausted and still notice a missing dollar.””

Dad looked down.

I remembered my mother checking restaurant bills twice and teaching me to save receipts. At the time, I had thought it was simply a habit.

Eleanor opened the folder.

“About a year before she died, your mother discovered that several transfers had been made through a company connected to Grant. The transfers were supposed to support medical charities, but some of the money had been diverted into private investment accounts.””

Michael leaned forward.

“Do you the folder.

“About a year before she died, your mother discovered that several transfers had been made through a company connected to Grant. The transfers were supposed to support medical charities, but some of the money had been diverted into private investment accounts.””

Michael leaned forward.

“Do you have documentation?””

Eleanor nodded.

“I kept copies of the original transaction summaries. Your mother asked me to help her trace the payments because I have documentation?””

Eleanor nodded.

“I kept copies of the original transaction summaries. Your mother asked me to help her trace the payments because I had worked in accounting.””

“Why didn't she report it?”” I asked.

“She intended to. But she wanted to understand the full arrangement first. She was afraid that if Grant realized she knew, he would move the money and destroy the records.””

Dad's expression tightened had worked in accounting.””

“Why didn't she report it?”” I asked.

“She intended to. But she wanted to understand the full arrangement first. She was afraid that if Grant realized she knew, he would move the money and destroy the records.””

Dad's expression tightened.

“Did Vanessa know about these transactions?””

Eleanor looked away.

“Yes.””

The answer struck the table like a dropped stone.

“How?”” Dad demanded.

“Vanessa was introduced to Grant through an investment group. She had invested.

“Did Vanessa know about these transactions?””

Eleanor looked away.

“Yes.””

The answer struck the table like a dropped stone.

“How?”” Dad demanded.

“Vanessa was introduced to Grant through an investment group. She had invested money with him before she met you, Richard. When your wife's questions threatened to expose the arrangement, Grant asked Vanessa to find out how much money with him before she met you, Richard. When your wife's questions threatened to expose the arrangement, Grant asked Vanessa to find out how much she knew.””