Chapter 4 - THE GRANDMOTHER WHO CHOSE THE COMPANY
Margaret Whitmore requested the meeting herself.
No lawyer.
No Claire.
No Malcolm.
She arrived at Rachel's building wearing sunglasses despite the cloudy afternoon.
Mara did not invite her upstairs.
They spoke in the courtyard.
Margaret removed her glasses.
She had been crying.
“Mara.”
“Did you sign a statement against me?”
Margaret's face collapsed.
“Yes.”
No denial.
Good.
“Why?”
“Claire told me Andrew had discovered something terrible.”
“What?”
“That you'd been moving money.”
Mara almost laughed.
Of course.
Every conspiracy worked better if everyone received a different lie.
“What money?”
“She said you and Andrew had been fighting because he'd found secret accounts.”
“And you believed her.”
“Malcolm showed me documents.”
“Forged.”
“I know that now.”
Mara folded her arms.
“When?”
Margaret looked ashamed.
“When Claire threw the cake.”
That surprised her.
Margaret continued.
“She told me beforehand that you might become violent.”
Mara's stomach tightened.
“She told you what she planned?”
“No.”
“She said she'd confront you about Andrew.”
“And you signed because?”
“I thought Lily needed protection if you broke down.”
Mara stared.
“Protection from me.”
Margaret cried.
“I was frightened.”
“Lily spent nine nights asking where her father was.”
“I know.”
“She watched her aunt throw a birthday cake at her.”
Margaret covered her mouth.
“I know.”
“And you stood there.”
“Yes.”
The word came broken.
Mara felt no urge to comfort her.
Good.
“Where is Andrew?”
“I don't know.”
“Did you know he was at Mercer House?”
Margaret went pale.
There.
“No.”
Mara stepped closer.
“What do you know?”
Margaret looked around.
Then:
“Claire asked me for Father's old lake property.”
“What?”
“Three days ago.”
“Where?”
“Michigan.”
Theo, listening through Mara's earpiece from a parked car, immediately began searching.
Margaret continued.
“The house hasn't been used in years.”
“Why did she want it?”
“She said investors needed privacy.”
“Address.”
Margaret hesitated.
Mara's voice hardened.
“Your son is missing.”
Margaret gave it.
Theo texted:
Found it. 2 hrs 40 min. Property still held by Whitmore Family Trust.
Mara said:
“Did Claire have access?”
“Yes.”
“Medical equipment?”
Margaret frowned.
“There was a private care suite.”
“Why?”
“My husband was ill before he died.”
Perfect.
Remote property.
Medical room.
Family-owned.
Mara turned away.
Margaret caught her arm.
Mara looked down.
Margaret immediately released it.
“Please.”
“What?”
“If Andrew is there…”
She started crying.
“Bring him home.”
Mara stared at her.
“You don't get to ask me to fix the family you helped endanger.”
Margaret flinched.
Mara continued:
“But I'm bringing my husband home.”
Not for Margaret.
For Andrew.
For Lily.
For herself.
Law enforcement moved faster with the new property information.
Theo handed over everything.
They did not go storming in.
Mara hated every minute of waiting.
At 9:18 that night, officers entered the lake house.
At 9:31, Theo's attorney received confirmation.
One adult male found.
Alive.
Sedated.
Hospital identification under the name:
Adam Winter.
Approximate age:
Forty-one.
Scar above left knee.
Mara knew that scar.
Andrew had gotten it skiing when they were twenty-six.
Her knees gave out.
Theo caught the chair, not her.
Good instincts.
“Is he awake?”
“Not yet.”
“Is he—”
“Stable.”
Mara covered her face.
Alive.
Andrew was alive.
Then Theo's expression changed.
“What?”
“The property caretaker was arrested.”
“Who?”
He turned the phone toward her.
Mara recognized the photograph immediately.
Peter Vale.
Chief of personal security for the Whitmore family.
May you like
Andrew's godfather.
And the man who had personally led the search for him for nine days.
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