Chapter 6: The Place Without Windows
“You are not moving my mother,” Richard said.
Daniel handed the order to the hospital administrator.
“The court disagrees.”
The administrator read it twice.
“Until a judge reviews the challenge, Mrs.
Hale’s legal representative may select her facility.”
“I never chose Victoria,” Evelyn said from the bed.
Victoria bent close.
“You signed the earlier medical authorization.”
“You covered the top of the page.”
“Can you prove that?”
Elena stepped forward.
“The memory card will.”
Daniel shook his head.
“That footage is under review.
Until then, the order stands.”
Richard called his own attorney, but the answer made his face fall.
“The hearing can’t happen until tomorrow afternoon.”
Victoria touched his sleeve.
“You should have listened to me.”
He pulled away.
“Don’t pretend this is over.”
The private attendants wheeled Evelyn toward the exit.
Elena followed until one of them blocked her.
“Family only.”
“She is family to me,” Evelyn said.
Victoria looked back.
“Not legally.”
The elevator doors closed on Evelyn’s frightened face.
Elena struck the call button again and again.
“Where are they taking her?”
Daniel tucked the order into his case.
“Somewhere you cannot interfere.”
An older man in a gray driver’s uniform rose from the waiting area.
“I know where,” he said.
Victoria’s head snapped around.
“Harold, go home.”
Harold removed his cap.
“I drove you there last Thursday.”
“You drove me to a meeting.”
“I waited outside Briarwood House for two hours.
Then I drove you and Daniel to a notary.”
Daniel pointed at him.
“Be very careful.”
“I’ve been careful for thirty-two years.
That’s why my dashboard camera records every journey.”
Victoria went pale.
Harold held out a key to Richard.
“My car is downstairs.
The memory unit is locked inside.”
Daniel grabbed his arm.
“That footage belongs to your employer.”
Harold pulled free.
“Mrs.
Evelyn employed me before you learned how to tie that expensive tie.”
Richard took the key.
“Come with us.”
At the parking garage, Harold opened the dashboard compartment and removed a second card.
“You can hear them clearly,” he said.
“They discussed putting Elena’s brother’s access badge beside missing company checks.”
Elena covered her mouth.
“Mateo knew nothing.”
“I know,” Harold replied.
“I watched Victoria take a spare badge from security.”
Richard’s face hardened.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
Harold looked him directly in the eye.
“Because every time someone questioned your wife, you defended her before they finished speaking.”
Richard lowered his gaze.
“You’re right.”
They drove to Briarwood House and found Daniel waiting in the lobby.
“You are trespassing,” he said.
“My mother is inside,” Richard replied.
“She asked not to see you.”
“Let her tell me herself.”
Daniel placed a hand on Richard’s chest.
“Walk away, or the financial records go to the authorities tonight.”
Elena stepped beside Richard.
“What did you make him sign?”
Daniel smiled.
“Loan guarantees, company transfers, charitable payments.
Richard signed whatever Victoria placed in front of him.”
Richard took out his phone.
“And you redirected the money?”
“Careful.
Accusing your lawyer without evidence is expensive.”
Harold held up the card.
“Is this evidence expensive enough?”
Daniel’s face tightened.
A cry came from behind the locked corridor door.
“Elena!”
She ran toward it, but two attendants blocked her.
Victoria appeared on the other side of the glass with Evelyn in a wheelchair.
“You should have taken my offer,” she told Elena.
Evelyn lifted one shaking hand.
Dark ink covered her fingertips.
Elena pressed both palms against the glass.
“What did you make her sign?”
May you like
Victoria held up a notarized document.
“Her new will.”
