Chương 5
“He said your insurance account had locked him out,” she whispered.
“Why was he in my insurance account?”
“He was comparing policies.”
“Why?”
“Because he handles things. You complain that you don’t understand the websites, and then when somebody helps, you act like—”
She stopped.
Eleanor could hear the heating system running inside the walls.
“You gave him the code,” Eleanor said.
“I read it to him. I didn’t know it was a loan.”
“Did you ask?”
“He said it was time-sensitive.”
“Did you ask?”
Claire’s eyes filled, but her voice sharpened. “You’ve been saying the house will be mine for twenty years.”
“After I die.”
“I know.”
“Do you?”
“That’s cruel.”
“What did you think the code was for?”
“I just told you.”
“You told me what he said. I asked what you thought.”
Claire looked down at the porch boards.
A car passed at the end of the street, tires hissing over wet pavement.
“I thought maybe he was moving money around,” she said.
Eleanor’s hand tightened around her purse strap.
“Whose money?”
“I don’t know.”
“That is not true.”
Claire wiped beneath one eye with the heel of her hand. “We’re in trouble.”
“What kind of trouble?”
“Business debt.”
“How much?”
“I don’t know exactly.”
“Stop saying that.”
“I don’t! He handles it.”
“You signed tax returns.”
“I signed where he showed me.”
“Claire.”
“Don’t say my name like I’m twelve.”
“Then don’t stand on my porch telling me your husband moves money and you sign whatever he points at.”
Claire’s face changed. Hurt gave way to anger, and Eleanor saw something in it that belonged neither to Brandon nor to fear. It belonged to years of resentment Eleanor had treated as gratitude.
“I took care of Dad for eighteen months,” Claire said. “I left work. I drove him to chemo. I cleaned him when he couldn’t make it to the bathroom. Brandon had the kids alone every evening while you sat beside Dad and acted like nobody else was losing anything.”
Eleanor’s reply rose immediately and died behind her teeth.
Claire continued.
“You told me this house would give us security. You said I would never have to worry about where the children lived. Every time I tried to go back to work, somebody needed me. Dad needed me. You needed me. The kids needed me. And now you’re standing here with a policeman because I read six numbers off your phone.”
The front door opened behind her.
Owen stood there barefoot.
Claire turned.
“Inside, please.”
He stayed where he was.
Eleanor lowered her voice. “We will talk when the children aren’t listening.”
“You always decide when people are allowed to talk.”
“Claire.”
“Go. Your lawyer is waiting.”
Eleanor walked to her car.
The deputy held the passenger door open for the last suitcase. When Eleanor looked back, Claire had gone inside, but Owen remained at the window.
He lifted one hand.
Eleanor lifted hers.
That afternoon, Brandon sent a family group message.
Christmas was painful for everyone. Eleanor has been increasingly confused and suspicious since Harold passed. We are working privately to make sure she is safe and supported. Please do not encourage decisions she may regret.
Martin called Eleanor within five minutes.
“I’m not taking sides,” he began.
“Then why are you calling?”
“To tell you what he wrote.”
“I received it.”
“Oh.”
“Did you answer?”
“No.”
“Good.”
“I almost put a thumbs-up, but that seemed wrong.”
“It would have been.”
“Are you confused?”
Eleanor closed her eyes.
Martin rushed on. “I mean, obviously everybody forgets things. I put my glasses in the freezer last month.”
“Why?”
“I was making ice.”
“That does not explain it.”
“No, it doesn’t.”
Against her will, Eleanor smiled.
Martin lowered his voice. “He told people you got lost driving to Lily’s recital.”
“I missed the turn.”
“He said you ended up in Dublin.”
“The recital was in Dublin.”
“That’s what I thought.”
“Martin, do you believe I’m unable to manage my affairs?”
“No.”
“Would you say that if someone asked formally?”
The line went quiet.
“I suppose.”
“That is not an answer.”
“I don’t like legal things.”
“Neither do I.”
“I saw what happened last night,” he said. “I should have said something.”
“Yes.”
“I didn’t know what.”
“You could have said my name.”
Martin breathed out.
“I’m sorry, Ellie.”
It had been years since anyone called her that.
She sat in her hotel room with Harold’s cedar box on the desk and cried for the first time since leaving the house. Not dramatically. No sound came except one broken breath. Tears ran beneath her glasses and dropped onto her dress.
She removed the glasses, wiped them on the corner of the spare apron, and called the bank.
The fraud representative asked precise questions in a voice trained to remain neutral. Eleanor confirmed she had not authorized the application. She confirmed that a family member might have accessed her documents. She confirmed that another family member had relayed a security code without understanding its purpose.
“Would you like to make a formal identity-theft report?” the representative asked.
Eleanor looked at Harold’s wedding ring in the cedar box.
“What happens if I do?”
“Our department continues the investigation either way. A formal report creates documentation you may need to dispute accounts or credit activity. Depending on what we find, the bank may refer the matter to law enforcement.”
“Will I control that?”
“No, ma’am.”
Eleanor thought of Lily asking whether she was mad.
She thought of Claire saying, We’re in trouble.
“I need an hour,” she said.
She drove to a diner where she and Harold used to eat after oncology appointments. The hostess did not recognize her. That relieved Eleanor more than it should have.
She ordered coffee and toast, then left both untouched while she listed facts on a paper napkin.
The house belonged to her.
Someone had tried to borrow against it.
Claire had provided a code.
May you like
Brandon had access to the den.
Claire and Brandon were in debt.
