Chapter 8: The Forty-Seven-Minute Visit
I didn't remember leaving the house.
I remembered the hospital receptionist asking me to confirm my date of birth.
I remembered Margaret speaking to someone in the corridor.
I remembered my father standing beside the window, staring at the rain.
But the forty-seven minutes wouldn't leave my mind.
Richard Cole had visited my mother while she was dying.
And nobody had told me.
At 9:30 that evening, Margaret arrived at my apartment with a folder.
"We need to be careful," she said.
I placed two cups of tea on the table.
"Careful about what?""
"About assuming the visit was criminal.""
"Then why was his name restricted?""
"That's what we're going to find out.""
My father sat in the armchair.
He had barely spoken since the discovery.
Margaret opened the folder.
"The hospital confirmed Richard signed the visitor register. They also confirmed he requested a private consultation with Helen.""
"Did she agree?""
"According to the nursing notes, yes.""
I stared at her.
"Why would she?""
My father looked up.
"Because she believed he could still be reasoned with.""
I turned toward him.
"You knew he visited her?""
"No.""
"But you knew she was afraid of him.""
He nodded.
I sat down.
"What happened during those forty-seven minutes?""
Margaret removed a photocopy.
It was a nursing report.
The handwriting was difficult to read, but one sentence stood out.
Patient became distressed following visitor's departure and requested that all legal documents be transferred to attorney Daniel Whitmore.
I looked at my father.
"She knew something was wrong.""
"Yes.""
"Did she tell you?""
"No.""
Margaret turned another page.
"There was also a medication discrepancy.""
My stomach tightened.
"What kind?""
"The hospital recorded a request from an outside physician to review Helen's medication schedule.""
"Who?""
"Dr. Alan Reeves.""
My father stood.
"Richard's personal physician.""
I looked at him.
"How do you know?""
"He treated Richard for years.""
Margaret made a note.
"We need the complete medical record, including medication administration logs and the identity of anyone who authorized changes.""
I felt cold.
"Are you suggesting someone harmed my mother?""
Margaret met my eyes.
"I'm suggesting we don't ignore a discrepancy.""
My father walked toward the window.
"Helen was already very ill. Richard knew that.""
"Then why visit her?"" I asked.
He didn't answer.
I picked up the hospital report.
At the bottom was a handwritten note.
Patient requested that daughter not be contacted regarding visitor.
I stared at it.
My mother had specifically asked them not to call me.
Why?
I remembered the last time I had visited her.
She had been lying in bed, her skin pale, her voice weak.
I had been crying.
She had taken my hand.
"Don't worry about the business, sweetheart.""
"I don't care about the business, Mom.""
She smiled.
"Good.""
I had kissed her forehead.
Then she had asked me to go home and sleep.
I hadn't known that Richard Cole would visit four days later.
I hadn't known that my mother would ask the hospital to keep him secret.
And I hadn't known that she was trying to protect me from something.
At 11:12 p.m., Daniel called.
"Nora, I've located the original trust archive.""
"Where?""
"Your mother's storage unit.""
I frowned.
"What storage unit?""
"She rented one under her maiden name. It wasn't listed in the estate inventory.""
My father turned around.
"When did you find it?""
"This afternoon. The rental company confirmed that the unit is still active.""
I stood.
"What's inside?""
"I haven't opened it yet. I wanted you present.""
"Tomorrow morning?""
"Eight o'clock.""
I agreed.
Then Daniel added, "There's one more thing. The unit was accessed yesterday.""
My heart skipped.
"By whom?""
"The security camera shows a woman.""
"Who?""
He hesitated.
"Claire Cole.""
I looked toward Claire's empty chair.
She had gone home after giving us the transfer authorization.
"Why would she go there?""
"I don't know. But she left carrying a small box.""
I closed my eyes.
"Call her.""
Daniel did.
No answer.
I sent a message.
We need to talk. What did you take from my mother's storage unit?
The reply came five minutes later.
I didn't take anything for Evan.
I typed.
Then why were you there?
Her response arrived almost immediately.
Because I found out what my father did to Helen.
I stared at the message.
Then another appeared.
And because I found the original recording.
My father stepped closer.
"What recording?""
I showed him.
His face changed.
"Call her.""
I dialed.
This time, Claire answered.
"Nora?""
"What recording?""
She was crying.
"My father recorded the meeting with your mother at the hospital.""
I felt my throat tighten.
"Why?""
"I don't know. But I found a copy in his study.""
"What's on it?""
She took a breath.
"Your mother tells him that she knows about the forged transfer.""
"And?""
"Richard says he'll make sure you never inherit the workshop.""
I gripped the phone.
"Then what does my mother say?""
Claire was silent.
"Claire?""
"She says something about a second beneficiary.""
I looked at my father.
His expression had gone completely still.
"What beneficiary?""
"I don't know. The recording cuts off.""
"Where is it?""
"At my apartment.""
"Bring it tomorrow.""
"I can't.""
"Why?""
A man's voice sounded in the background.
"Claire!""
She gasped.
I heard a door slam.
Then her voice returned, barely above a whisper.
"My father is here.""
"Leave.""
"I can't. He has my keys.""
"Go to a neighbor's apartment. Call the police.""
"Nora, listen to me.""
Her voice broke.
"He knows I took the recording.""
Then I heard another voice.
Richard.
"Give me the phone.""
The call ended.
I immediately dialed 911.
Margaret took my phone and gave the dispatcher our information.
My father paced the room.
"He's going to destroy the recording.""
"We don't know where Claire is," I said.
"We'll find her.""
At midnight, a police officer called.
Claire had been located at her apartment.
She was unharmed.
Richard had left before officers arrived.
But the recording was missing.
I sat on the edge of my bed, staring at the floor.
Then my phone vibrated.
A message from Claire.
I hid a copy somewhere else.
I called her.
She answered in a whisper.
"Where?""
"Your mother's workshop.""
"Where in the workshop?""
"Inside the cabinet.""
I closed my eyes.
"Which cabinet?""
"The small walnut one.""
My breath caught.
The same cabinet Evan had fought to keep.
"The one in the house?""
"Yes.""
"Claire, it's still there?""
"Yes.""
I looked at the clock.
12:07 a.m.
Then she said something that made the room go cold.
"Nora, the recording isn't the only thing hidden inside.""
"What else?""
"Your mother left a letter addressed to the second beneficiary.""
"Who is the second beneficiary?""
Claire started crying again.
"I don't know.""
"Read the name.""
"I can't.""
"Why?""
"Because the name is mine.""
I stopped breathing.
May you like
Claire whispered:
"Your mother named me as the second beneficiary of the trust.""
