Chapter 7 - The Thirty-Day Window
The cufflink changed everything.
Nicole placed it in an envelope and gave it to Margaret.
“Don’t lose this.”
“I won’t.”
“Does it prove Raymond is alive?”
“It proves Emma possessed Raymond’s cufflink. A defense attorney could invent ten explanations.”
“But combined with her statement?”
“It matters.”
Margaret locked it in a safe.
Nicole paced.
“What happens if Raymond stays hidden?”
“The police will eventually find him, or Gregory will.”
“You say that as if Gregory is definitely involved.”
“I’m saying your husband is behaving like a man with something substantial to lose.”
Margaret pulled out another folder.
“Which brings us back to the trust.”
Archer Properties was larger than Nicole had ever fully appreciated.
The company owned apartment complexes, retail centers, two warehouses, a marina and hundreds of acres of undeveloped land.
But the crown jewel was Alder Ridge.
Two hundred and twelve acres outside Westbridge purchased by Nicole’s father for barely three million dollars.
A technology firm had offered twenty-six million for it the previous year.
Raymond refused.
Gregory had argued for the sale.
Nicole had stayed out of it.
Now Margaret showed her a draft agreement.
Northstar Holdings had an option to purchase Alder Ridge for nine million dollars.
Nicole stared.
“That’s seventeen million below the last offer.”
“Yes.”
“Who approved this?”
“Nobody legally.”
“My signature is on it.”
“Electronically.”
Nicole felt the blood leave her face.
“That isn’t my signature.”
“It is your digital credential.”
“I never approved this.”
“I believe you.”
“Would a court?”
“That depends on evidence.”
Nicole sat.
Everything Raymond had said suddenly felt less theoretical.
“What happens if Raymond is declared dead and I become trustee?”
“You could ratify this transaction.”
“I wouldn’t.”
“But someone may believe they can persuade or pressure you.”
“Gregory.”
Margaret did not answer.
She did not need to.
Nicole looked through the pages.
“Who owns Northstar?”
“The registered manager is a corporate service company in Delaware.”
“Beneficial owner?”
“Hidden behind two entities.”
“Can we find out?”
“With subpoenas.”
“That takes time.”
“We have twenty-five days.”
Nicole looked toward the window.
“And Raymond knew this?”
“I don’t know what Raymond knew.”
“I think he knew everything.”
“That would be very unlike Raymond.”
Nicole looked at her.
Margaret almost smiled.
“He always knew half of everything and behaved as if it were all.”
Despite herself, Nicole laughed.
Then the office phone rang.
Margaret answered.
Her expression changed.
“When?”
She listened.
“Do not release the remains.”
Another pause.
“Yes. Put that in writing.”
She hung up.
“What?”
“The funeral home received a new authorization this morning.”
“For what?”
“Immediate cremation.”
Nicole stood.
“From whom?”
“Gregory.”
“He can’t authorize it.”
“He filed as the designated family representative on the original funeral contract.”
“That was before I objected.”
“Correct.”
“Can he override me?”
“No. Not while there is a county hold.”
Nicole exhaled.
Margaret did not look relieved.
“What?”
“The funeral director says Gregory’s request arrived thirty minutes before police served the hold.”
Nicole understood.
If Emma had stayed quiet at the funeral, the body would already be ash.
No scar.
No second identification.
No evidence.
Her six-year-old daughter had accidentally preserved the most important piece of the mystery.
That afternoon Detective Bell called.
Margaret allowed Nicole to answer on speaker.
“We’re conducting a second examination tomorrow,” Bell said.
“Will you compare dental records?”
“We will compare everything available.”
Nicole hesitated.
“Detective?”
“Yes?”
“If someone had intentionally supplied the wrong identification records, would you know?”
A long silence.
“That’s a very specific question.”
“Would you?”
“If the records can be independently obtained, yes.”
Nicole looked at Margaret.
Bell continued.
“Mrs. Hart, if you know something about the identity of the deceased, now is the time.”
Nicole thought of Raymond.
Alive.
Hiding.
She thought of Emma.
Afraid she had caused trouble by telling the truth.
Then she thought of Gregory ordering the body burned before anyone could examine it.
“I don’t know who he is,” Nicole said.
This time there was no technical escape.
It was simply a lie.
Bell responded quietly.
“I hope that remains true.”
He ended the call.
Nicole stared at the phone.
Margaret looked disappointed.
“You need to decide what kind of person you want to be when this is over.”
Nicole swallowed.
“I want to be Emma’s mother.”
“Then remember what you’re teaching her.”
That evening Emma drew three people at a table.
Nicole.
Emma.
Raymond.
No Gregory.
Nicole stared at it.
“Where’s Daddy?”
Emma shrugged.
“I didn’t know which side he’s on.”
Nicole had no answer.
Then the prepaid phone rang.
Only Raymond had the number.
Nicole picked up.
“Where are you?”
Raymond ignored the question.
“Did Gregory try to cremate the body?”
Nicole closed her eyes.
“Yes.”
Raymond breathed out.
“Then I was right.”
“About what?”
“That fire wasn’t meant to scare me.”
May you like
His next words came slowly.
“It was meant to erase me.”
