Chapter 3: The Man Richard Trusted
“Elena has already asked too many questions,” the man said on the recording.
“Get her dismissed tonight.
After that, Evelyn won’t have anyone left to believe her.”
Richard stopped the recording.
“That’s Daniel Price,” Elena whispered.
“Your family lawyer.”
Victoria rushed toward the phone, but Richard stepped between them.
“Why is Daniel discussing my mother with you?”
“It isn’t what it sounds like.”
“Then tell me what it sounds like.”
Victoria pointed at Elena.
“She edited it.
She has been planning this for weeks.”
“With what equipment?” Elena asked.
“That recording started when the vase struck me.
You can hear everything before Daniel speaks.”
Evelyn pulled the blanket around herself.
“Daniel brought the papers yesterday.”
Richard looked at his mother.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I tried.
Victoria took my telephone.”
“That’s a lie!” Victoria snapped.
Evelyn flinched.
Elena reached for her hand, but the movement sent pain through her back.
She dropped to one knee beside the bed.
Richard caught her arm.
“Sit down.
I’m calling an ambulance.”
“Call the police too,” Victoria said.
“They can take Elena away.”
Richard stared at the red mark on Elena’s lip.
“The only person leaving this room right now is you.”
Victoria’s mouth fell open.
“You’re choosing a paid caregiver over your wife?”
“I’m choosing to listen before I put my hands on another innocent person.”
Elena turned away, but not before he saw her eyes fill.
“I’m sorry,” he said.
“What I did to you was inexcusable.”
“You didn’t even ask me one question.”
“No, I didn’t.”
“And if your mother hadn’t spoken?”
Richard lowered his hand.
“I would have thrown you out believing a lie.”
Victoria folded her arms.
“Wonderful.
Now that everyone has finished feeling sorry for Elena, perhaps Richard should know why she was really hired.”
Elena went still.
Richard noticed.
“What does that mean?”
“Ask her about the photographs she took in this house.”
“I photographed the labels on Evelyn’s medicine,” Elena said.
“They kept changing.”
“You searched through our private things.”
“I found tablets in a bottle that didn’t match the prescription.”
Evelyn squeezed Elena’s fingers.
“They made me sleep all day.”
Richard faced Victoria.
“You told me her confusion was getting worse.”
“It was getting worse.”
“Because you were giving her the wrong medicine?”
Victoria took another step toward the door.
“You have no proof.”
Elena unlocked her phone and opened a folder.
“I have a photograph from every morning for twelve days.
The pills changed whenever Victoria prepared the tray.”
A siren sounded beyond the gates.
Richard held up the transfer document.
“And Daniel prepared this?”
“He said it was routine,” Evelyn replied.
“When I refused, Victoria told me Elena would be blamed for everything.”
Victoria’s eyes narrowed.
“Be careful, Elena.
You have a younger brother depending on you, don’t you?”
Elena’s face drained of color.
Richard moved closer to his wife.
“What did you just say?”
“I’m reminding her that accusations have consequences.”
“That sounded like a threat.”
The bedroom doorbell echoed from downstairs.
A moment later, the housekeeper called up from the hall.
“Mr.
Hale?
Mr.
Daniel Price is here.
He says Mrs.
Hale asked him to come.”
Victoria smiled for the first time since the recording played.
May you like
Then Daniel’s calm voice rose from the staircase.
“Richard, don’t let Elena say another word until you see what I brought.”
