Chapter 6: The Dead Man on the Staircase
“Lauren, don't come upstairs.””
The voice came from the second-floor landing.
I knew it.
I had heard it at my grandmother's funeral, during the reading of her will, and in the final meeting where Daniel Whitmore had explained the inheritance.
Robert Ellis.
The man whose name appeared on the forged amendment.
The man Daniel had just confirmed was dead.
My mother grabbed my wrist.
“Stay here.””
I stared at the staircase.
A shadow moved behind the railing.
Then a man stepped into view.
He was older than I remembered. His gray hair was thinner, his shoulders narrower, and he leaned heavily on a black walking cane.
But his face was unmistakable.
Robert Ellis looked down at us.
“It's been a long time, Lauren.””
Daniel stepped forward.
“Robert?””
The old man gave a tired smile.
“Hello, Daniel.””
Daniel looked as though someone had pulled the floor out from under him.
“You're supposed to be dead.””
Robert glanced at him.
“I've heard that.””
My mother released my wrist.
“You have no right to be here.””
Robert's expression changed.
“Elaine, I think we should stop pretending you don't know why I'm here.””
I looked between them.
“Someone explain what's happening.””
Robert slowly descended the staircase.
He stopped several steps above us.
“Your grandmother left something in this house, Lauren. Something she wanted you to have when the time was right.””
“What thing?””
“A letter. And a set of original financial records.””
Daniel stepped forward.
“Where?””
Robert looked at my mother.
“Exactly where Margaret told me to leave them.””
My mother shook her head.
“You promised.””
“I promised to protect Lauren. I never promised to protect you from the truth.””
I felt my stomach tighten.
“Mom, what did you do?””
She looked at me, then at Robert.
“Not everything he says is true.””
Robert gave a quiet laugh.
“That's what you said three years ago.””
Daniel raised his hand.
“Enough. Robert, I need to understand something. We were informed that you died last year.
There was an obituary. There was even a death certificate.””
Robert reached inside his jacket.
He removed a folded document and handed it to Daniel.
“Then someone went to considerable trouble to make that happen.””
Daniel examined the paper.
His expression became increasingly disturbed.
“This is a passport issued under another name.””
“Correct.””
“Why?””
Robert looked toward me.
“Because someone was following me.””
I swallowed.
“Who?””
He didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he looked toward the kitchen.
“Is Marcus still here?””
“He's with the police,” I replied.
“Good. Then we have less time than I thought.””
Daniel stepped closer.
“Robert, if you have evidence of financial fraud, you need to provide it to the authorities.””
“I intend to.””
“Then start talking.””
Robert sighed.
“Margaret discovered that someone had been draining money from her property investments shortly before she died. At first, she suspected an accounting error. Then she discovered that several transactions had been authorized using documents she had never signed.””
I looked at my mother.
She was staring at the floor.
“Who was stealing the money?””
Robert answered.
“Your mother's former business partner.””
I turned toward Elaine.
“Mom?””
She shook her head.
“Lauren, please.””
Robert continued.
“Elaine and her former partner, Thomas Reed, managed several of Margaret's investment accounts. Thomas was married to a woman named Vanessa Reed.””
I remembered the name from the phone call.
“Vanessa was your grandmother's financial adviser?””
“She was an accountant working for Thomas. She later became the person who exposed the transactions.””
My mother finally spoke.
“That's not how it happened.””
Robert looked at her.
“Then explain it.””
Elaine's eyes filled.
“Thomas approached me with an investment opportunity. He said he could double the returns on Margaret's commercial properties. I signed some documents because I trusted him.””
“What documents?”” I asked.
“Investment authorizations.””
“Did you know he was moving money?””
She shook her head.
“Not at first.””
Robert interrupted.
“Elaine signed a document granting Thomas temporary access to one of the estate accounts. Thomas used that authorization to move funds into a private company.””
“How much?””
“Approximately two million dollars.””
The same amount Brianna had mentioned.
I felt my knees weaken.
“Was that the money Vanessa told me about?””
Robert nodded.
“Part of it.””
My mother sat down.
“I didn't steal it, Lauren.””
I looked at her.
“But you signed the documents.””
“I made a terrible mistake.””
Robert's voice softened.
“Margaret believed you had been manipulated. She didn't want you to lose your inheritance because of your mother's mistake.””
I stared at him.
“So my grandmother changed her will?””
“No. She changed the trust arrangements. The amendment Marcus has been circulating is fabricated.””
Daniel nodded.
“That explains the inconsistencies.””
Robert continued.
“Margaret placed the remaining property into a protected trust and appointed Daniel as its legal administrator. She also instructed me to retain copies of the original financial records.””
“Where are they?””
Robert pointed toward the second-floor hallway.
“Your grandmother's office.””
I looked toward the room at the end.
The door was slightly open.
I had spent years in that room without knowing it contained anything important.
Robert reached into his jacket and handed me a small brass key.
“Your grandmother wanted you to find the truth yourself.””
I took it.
“Why didn't she tell me?””
“Because she knew you'd try to protect everyone involved. Including people who didn't deserve your protection.””
I looked at my mother.
She was crying silently.
Daniel moved toward the office.
“Let's retrieve the records.””
Robert shook his head.
“Not yet.””
“Why?””
“Because the person who has been searching for them may already know we're here.””
A sharp sound came from outside.
The security panel beeped.
Then a second notification appeared.
*EXTERNAL GATE ACCESS — AUTHORIZED.*
I turned toward the screen.
A black SUV had stopped outside the property.
The driver's door opened.
A woman stepped out.
She wore a cream-colored suit and carried a leather briefcase.
I recognized her from the photograph Brianna had shown us.
Vanessa Reed.
She entered the house without waiting for anyone to invite her.
“Robert,” she said.
He closed his eyes.
“You shouldn't have come.””
Vanessa looked at me.
“Lauren, I'm sorry. I know this is a terrible way to meet.””
Daniel stepped forward.
“You're Vanessa Reed?””
“Yes.””
“Then you have some explaining to do.””
She placed her briefcase on the kitchen island.
“I will. But first, I need to show Lauren something.””
She opened the case and removed a sealed envelope.
On the front, in my grandmother's handwriting, were five words.
*For Lauren. When they all come.*
I recognized the handwriting immediately.
My hands began trembling.
Vanessa placed the envelope in front of me.
“Your grandmother gave this to me two days before she died.””
I looked at her.
“What's inside?””
Vanessa's eyes moved toward my mother.
“The reason Marcus chose you.””
And before I could open it, someone outside shouted.
“Police! Nobody move!””
Vanessa stepped away from the table.
May you like
Then Robert whispered something that made Daniel turn pale.
“Don't let them take that envelope. One of those officers is working for Thomas.””
