Chapter 5 - The First Woman They Paid to DisappearDaniel began with the household staffing agency.
Its director, Helen Mercer, sounded uncomfortable the moment he mentioned Beatriz Santos.
"Mr. Whitmore, I thought those matters were closed."
"What matters?"
"The complaints concerning your former nanny."
Daniel leaned against his desk.
"What complaints?"
Helen paused.
"I think you should come to the office."
An hour later, he arrived at a modest building in Bryn Mawr.
Helen received him in a conference room with frosted glass walls.
She was in her fifties, with gray-streaked hair and a no-nonsense expression.
"I've worked with your family for eleven years," she said.
"I know."
"And I've never had a situation like this."
She placed a folder before him.
Inside were copies of correspondence concerning Beatriz.
Daniel read the first letter.
It stated that his nanny had been dismissed after witnessing emotionally disturbing treatment of the Whitmore child.
"Who wrote this?"
"The complaint came from your mother's office."
"That doesn't make sense. Beatriz was dismissed for mistreating Lucas."
Helen stared at him.
"No, Mr. Whitmore. We were told the family dismissed her because she was threatening to report concerns about Lucas's care."
Daniel felt cold.
"Who signed the complaint?"
"Your brother."
Grant Whitmore.
Executive vice president and chief financial officer of Whitmore Glassworks.
Daniel's younger brother had spent twenty years inside the family company. He was charming, disciplined, and infinitely patient when money was involved.
Daniel had relied on him since their father died.
"What did Grant want you to do?"
"Remove Beatriz from future assignments with the family. He also offered to cover any salary she was owed."
"Did she accept?"
"Yes. But not the additional confidentiality agreement."
Daniel looked up.
"What confidentiality agreement?"
Helen opened another folder.
"A payment of eighty thousand dollars was offered if she agreed never to discuss the household."
Daniel sat back.
"That's absurd."
"She thought so too."
Helen hesitated.
"Beatriz told me something I haven't forgotten."
"What?"
"She said Lucas wasn't dangerous. He was being made afraid."
Daniel stared at the table.
"Did she explain?"
"She believed someone was deliberately making him expect abandonment."
Helen folded her hands.
"She also said his mother had been trying to see him."
Daniel stood.
"Where is Beatriz now?"
"I can ask whether she's willing to speak with you."
"Please."
He turned toward the door.
"Mr. Whitmore?"
Daniel stopped.
Helen's expression had softened.
"For what it's worth, I always thought you were a decent employer."
He waited.
"But decent people can become very dangerous when they let other people do their thinking."
The words followed him all the way back to Hawthorne House.
When he arrived, Grant was waiting in the library.
His brother wore a charcoal suit and an expensive watch inherited from their father.
"Mother says you've been making inquiries."
Daniel shut the door.
"Did you offer Beatriz eighty thousand dollars?"
Grant's smile faded.
"I handled a sensitive staffing matter."
"Did you?"
"She was threatening litigation."
"Over what?"
"Daniel, you know how these things work. One allegation, one gossip column, and suddenly every investor is asking whether the Whitmore family has lost its mind."
"Who authorized the offer?"
Grant crossed his arms.
"I did."
"From what account?"
"The family's administrative budget."
"Which account?"
Grant's eyes sharpened.
"Why?"
"Because eighty thousand dollars doesn't vanish from a household budget without someone noticing."
Grant approached him.
"You're exhausted. Lucas is spiraling. Your marriage collapsed. Perhaps you should focus on your son instead of auditing the people holding everything together."
Daniel stared at his brother.
The words sounded concerned.
They were almost identical to the words Margaret had used the previous morning.
"Show me the invoice," Daniel said.
Grant's jaw tightened.
"There is no reason to drag company accounting into a family issue."
"You just told me the company paid."
Grant said nothing.
Daniel stepped closer.
"I want every payment involving household employees for the last two years."
"You're the CEO. Ask accounting."
"I am asking the CFO."
For the first time, Grant looked uncertain.
Then he smiled again.
"Of course."
He moved toward the door.
"But before you turn this into a family war, there's something you should know."
Daniel waited.
"Mother isn't the only one worried about Evelyn."
"Who else?"
Grant removed his phone.
He opened a photograph and handed it over.
It showed Evelyn standing outside a small café.
Beside her was a woman with long brown hair and a familiar profile.
Daniel recognized her immediately.
Anna.
His estranged wife.
The photograph was dated three weeks earlier.
May you like
Grant watched his face.
"Your housekeeper has been meeting with the woman who's trying to take your son away."
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