Chapter 8: Eleanor's Final Message
The police arrived within minutes.
Two officers escorted Edward into the sitting room while a detective named Laura Chapter 8: Eleanor's Final Message
The police arrived within minutes.
Two officers escorted Edward into the sitting room while a detective named Laura Bennett followed Richard upstairs. Daniel stood outside Eleanor's locked bedroom with a locksmith, who was already examining the mechanism.
“Is she armed?”” Detective Bennett asked.
Richard Bennett followed Richard upstairs. Daniel stood outside Eleanor's locked bedroom with a locksmith, who was already examining the mechanism.
“Is she armed?”” Detective Bennett asked.
Richard shook his head.
“I don't know.””
“Has she threatened anyone?””
“She threatened my son. Four years ago.””
The detective looked at him sharply.
“Do you have evidence?””
“We have a recording.””
“Good shook his head.
“I don't know.””
“Has she threatened anyone?””
“She threatened my son. Four years ago.””
The detective looked at him sharply.
“Do you have evidence?””
“We have a recording.””
“Good. Don't enter the room until we know it's safe.””
From behind the door, Victoria called out.
“You can. Don't enter the room until we know it's safe.””
From behind the door, Victoria called out.
“You can bring every police officer in Connecticut, Richard. It won't change what happened.””
Richard approached the door.
“What do you want?””
“I want you to listen bring every police officer in Connecticut, Richard. It won't change what happened.””
Richard approached the door.
“What do you want?””
“I want you to listen.””
“We've listened to enough.””
“No. You haven't.””
Something struck the other side of the door.
Then came the.””
“We've listened to enough.””
“No. You haven't.””
Something struck the other side of the door.
Then came the sound of a drawer opening.
Richard looked at Detective Bennett.
“She's looking for something.””
The detective gestured to the locksmith.
“Can you open it?””
“Give me two minutes.””
Victoria's voice rose sound of a drawer opening.
Richard looked at Detective Bennett.
“She's looking for something.””
The detective gestured to the locksmith.
“Can you open it?””
“Give me two minutes.””
Victoria's voice rose again.
“Do you remember the last thing Eleanor said to you?””
Richard went still.
He remembered their final conversation over the phone. again.
“Do you remember the last thing Eleanor said to you?””
Richard went still.
He remembered their final conversation over the phone. Eleanor had sounded tired, but she had insisted that he return home soon Eleanor had sounded tired, but she had insisted that he return home soon.
He had promised to be back the next morning.
He had never heard her voice again.
“Don't use her name,” he said.
“Why not? You spent four years pretending you.
He had promised to be back the next morning.
He had never heard her voice again.
“Don't use her name,” he said.
“Why not? You spent four years pretending you understood her.””
Richard pressed his palm against the door.
“What did you do?””
Victoria's voice softened.
“I tried to save myself.””
The locksmith understood her.””
Richard pressed his palm against the door.
“What did you do?””
Victoria's voice softened.
“I tried to save myself.””
The locksmith worked faster.
“I didn't plan for her to die,” Victoria continued.
“I thought she would become confused. I thought Richard would believe the doctors. I thought everything would settle down.””
“ worked faster.
“I didn't plan for her to die,” Victoria continued.
“I thought she would become confused. I thought Richard would believe the doctors. I thought everything would settle down.””
“Did you change her medication?””
“Yes.””
The answer came so plainly that Richard almost failed to understand it.
Detective Bennett immediately motioned to the officer beside her to record the admissionDid you change her medication?””
“Yes.””
The answer came so plainly that Richard almost failed to understand it.
Detective Bennett immediately motioned to the officer beside her to record the admission.
Richard stared at the door.
“Why?””
“Because she found the financial records. Because she threatened to expose Edward. Because she was going to destroy the life I had worked so hard to build.
Richard stared at the door.
“Why?””
“Because she found the financial records. Because she threatened to expose Edward. Because she was going to destroy the life I had worked so hard to build.””
“You had a life before Eleanor died.””
“I had nothing! I had a husband who spent every.””
“You had a life before Eleanor died.””
“I had nothing! I had a husband who spent every night mourning another woman. I had a house where nobody looked at me without comparing me to her. I had a stepson who treated me like an enemy.””
“So you decided she should die?””
“No!””
Victoria night mourning another woman. I had a house where nobody looked at me without comparing me to her. I had a stepson who treated me like an enemy.””
“So you decided she should die?””
“No!””
Victoria's scream echoed down the corridor.
“I decided she needed to stop. I never wanted her to die!””
's scream echoed down the corridor.
“I decided she needed to stop. I never wanted her to die!””
Richard closed his eyes.
Behind him, James stood beside Margaret. He had heard every word.
“Dad,” he whispered, “IRichard closed his eyes.
Behind him, James stood beside Margaret. He had heard every word.
“Dad,” he whispered, “I want to leave.””
Richard turned toward his son.
For the first time that day, he didn't ask James to want to leave.””
Richard turned toward his son.
For the first time that day, he didn't ask James to be brave, to wait, or to understand.
He simply pulled him into his arms.
“I'm here,” Richard said.
“I'm not going be brave, to wait, or to understand.
He simply pulled him into his arms.
“I'm here,” Richard said.
“I'm not going anywhere.””
James clutched his father's jacket.
“You weren't there for her.””
“I know.””
“You weren't there when she needed you.””
“I know, son.””
James began to cry.
Richard held him while the locksmith continued working.
At anywhere.””
James clutched his father's jacket.
“You weren't there for her.””
“I know.””
“You weren't there when she needed you.””
“I know, son.””
James began to cry.
Richard held him while the locksmith continued working.
At last, the lock gave way.
The door swung inward.
Victoria stood beside the dresser, holding a small black notebook. Her face was streaked with tears, last, the lock gave way.
The door swung inward.
Victoria stood beside the dresser, holding a small black notebook. Her face was streaked with tears, but her posture remained rigid.
Detective Bennett stepped into the room.
“Mrs. Whitmore, put the notebook down.””
Victoria looked at Richard.
“Tell them what Eleanor was really like.””
but her posture remained rigid.
Detective Bennett stepped into the room.
“Mrs. Whitmore, put the notebook down.””
Victoria looked at Richard.
“Tell them what Eleanor was really like.””
“Put it down,” the detective repeated.
Victoria dropped the notebook onto the dresser.
An officer moved to restrain her.
Before she was led away, Victoria“Put it down,” the detective repeated.
Victoria dropped the notebook onto the dresser.
An officer moved to restrain her.
Before she was led away, Victoria turned back toward Richard.
“Ask Margaret why she didn't call an ambulance herself. Ask her why she left turned back toward Richard.
“Ask Margaret why she didn't call an ambulance herself. Ask her why she left Eleanor alone. Ask her what she promised your wife that night.””
Margaret went white.
Richard turned slowly.
“Marg Eleanor alone. Ask her what she promised your wife that night.””
Margaret went white.
Richard turned slowly.
“Margaret?””
She looked down at her hands.
Victoria smiled through her tears.
“There's your perfect witnessaret?””
She looked down at her hands.
Victoria smiled through her tears.
“There's your perfect witness.””
The officers led Victoria downstairs.
Richard remained in the doorway, staring at Margaret.
“What did she mean?””
Margaret swallowed.””
The officers led Victoria downstairs.
Richard remained in the doorway, staring at Margaret.
“What did she mean?””
Margaret swallowed.
“Eleanor called me that night. She told me someone had changed her medication and asked me to come to the house. I was on my way when Victoria called.””
“What did she say?””
“She told me Eleanor.
“Eleanor called me that night. She told me someone had changed her medication and asked me to come to the house. I was on my way when Victoria called.””
“What did she say?””
“She told me Eleanor had calmed down and didn't need me anymore. She said you were coming home early and that everything was under control.””
“And you believed her?””
“I wanted had calmed down and didn't need me anymore. She said you were coming home early and that everything was under control.””
“And you believed her?””
“I wanted to.””
Margaret's voice broke.
“I had been afraid for weeks. I knew something was wrong, but I kept to.””
Margaret's voice broke.
“I had been afraid for weeks. I knew something was wrong, but I kept telling myself that Eleanor was strong enough to handle it. When Victoria called, I turned around.””
Richard felt anger rise in his chest.
“You left her alone.””
“Yes.””
“Why didn't you come back telling myself that Eleanor was strong enough to handle it. When Victoria called, I turned around.””
Richard felt anger rise in his chest.
“You left her alone.””
“Yes.””
“Why didn't you come back when you learned she had died?””
“Because I was ashamed. Because Victoria told me the police would discover that I had ignored Eleanor's warning. Because I thought I had helped cause when you learned she had died?””
“Because I was ashamed. Because Victoria told me the police would discover that I had ignored Eleanor's warning. Because I thought I had helped cause her death.””
Margaret wiped her eyes.
“I have hated myself for four years.””
Richard wanted to blame her.
Part of him needed someone else her death.””
Margaret wiped her eyes.
“I have hated myself for four years.””
Richard wanted to blame her.
Part of him needed someone else to carry a portion of the guilt.
But he remembered his own choices. He had ignored Eleanor's concerns. He had dismissed James's warnings. He had allowed Victoria to control the household because he was too exhausted to challenge to carry a portion of the guilt.
But he remembered his own choices. He had ignored Eleanor's concerns. He had dismissed James's warnings. He had allowed Victoria to control the household because he was too exhausted to challenge her.
He had been surrounded by people who saw the danger and did nothing.
And he had been one of them.
“Give Detective Bennett everything you have,” he said. her.
He had been surrounded by people who saw the danger and did nothing.
And he had been one of them.
“Give Detective Bennett everything you have,” he said.
“Every letter, every photograph, every conversation you remember.””
Margaret nodded.
“I will.””
Richard entered the bedroom.
The detective had “Every letter, every photograph, every conversation you remember.””
Margaret nodded.
“I will.””
Richard entered the bedroom.
The detective had opened the black notebook. Most of its pages were blank, but a small envelope was tucked into the back cover.
His name was written on it.
*Richard opened the black notebook. Most of its pages were blank, but a small envelope was tucked into the back cover.
His name was written on it.
Richard.
His hands trembled as he opened it.
Inside was a memory card and a short note.
If you are reading this, someone.
His hands trembled as he opened it.
Inside was a memory card and a short note.
If you are reading this, someone has finally found the courage to tell you what happened. I hope you will forgive me for keeping secrets. I was trying to protect James, but I know now that silence is not protection.
There is one thing I has finally found the courage to tell you what happened. I hope you will forgive me for keeping secrets. I was trying to protect James, but I know now that silence is not protection.
*There is one thing I have not told you. The night before I died, I learned that someone had been watching James at school. I don't know have not told you.
The night before I died, I learned that someone had been watching James at school. I don't know whether it was Edward or Victoria, but I believe they were using him to keep me quiet.*
The memory card contains the last recording whether it was Edward or Victoria, but I believe they were using him to keep me quiet.
The memory card contains the last recording I made. Please watch it before you decide what to do.
Richard handed the card to Detective Bennett.
“Can you access this?””
She I made. Please watch it before you decide what to do.*
Richard handed the card to Detective Bennett.
“Can you access this?””
She nodded to an officer, who retrieved a secure laptop.
Within moments, a video appeared.
Eleanor sat in the bedroom, wrapped in a blue cardigan. Her face was thinner nodded to an officer, who retrieved a secure laptop.
Within moments, a video appeared.
Eleanor sat in the bedroom, wrapped in a blue cardigan. Her face was thinner than Richard remembered, but her eyes were alert.
She looked directly into the camera.
“If you're watching this, Richard, I need you to listen carefully.””
Richard sat down.
Eleanor continued.
“I've made than Richard remembered, but her eyes were alert.
She looked directly into the camera.
“If you're watching this, Richard, I need you to listen carefully.””
Richard sat down.
Eleanor continued.
“I've made mistakes. I should have told you about the money sooner. I should have insisted that you investigate Edward when I first discovered the forged signatures.””
She paused, gathering her breath.
“But I didn't keep quiet because I was afraid for myself mistakes. I should have told you about the money sooner. I should have insisted that you investigate Edward when I first discovered the forged signatures.””
She paused, gathering her breath.
“But I didn't keep quiet because I was afraid for myself. I kept quiet because Victoria told me that if I went to the police, she would make sure James was taken away from you.””
Richard looked at his son.
James was watching the screen with tears running down his face.
Eleanor leaned closer. I kept quiet because Victoria told me that if I went to the police, she would make sure James was taken away from you.””
Richard looked at his son.
James was watching the screen with tears running down his face.
Eleanor leaned closer to the camera.
“Richard, there is something else. The person who helped Victoria arrange the medication changes wasn't working for the hospital. It was to the camera.
“Richard, there is something else. The person who helped Victoria arrange the medication changes wasn't working for the hospital. It was someone you trusted. Someone who had access to our medical records.””
The video flickered.
Then Eleanor said a name.
“Dr someone you trusted. Someone who had access to our medical records.””
The video flickered.
Then Eleanor said a name.
“Dr. Samuel Carter.””
Richard's blood ran cold.
Carter had been Eleanor's oncologist for three years.
He had attended her funeral.
. Samuel Carter.””
Richard's blood ran cold.
Carter had been Eleanor's oncologist for three years.
He had attended her funeral.
He had sat beside Richard at the memorial reception and assured him that nothing more could have been done.
Eleanor's recorded voice continued.
“He told me the changes were harmless. He said I was becomingHe had sat beside Richard at the memorial reception and assured him that nothing more could have been done.
Eleanor's recorded voice continued.
“He told me the changes were harmless. He said I was becoming paranoid. But when I asked him to show me the prescription records, he refused.””
The screen went dark.
Richard stared at the blank display.
Detective Bennett closed the laptop.
“ paranoid. But when I asked him to show me the prescription records, he refused.””
The screen went dark.
Richard stared at the blank display.
Detective Bennett closed the laptop.
“Mr. Whitmore, do you know where Dr. Carter is now?””
Richard nodded slowly.
“He's the medical director of the Eleanor Whitmore Pediatric Wing.””
The hospital wing they had opened that afternoon.
The wing fundedMr. Whitmore, do you know where Dr. Carter is now?””
Richard nodded slowly.
“He's the medical director of the Eleanor Whitmore Pediatric Wing.””
The hospital wing they had opened that afternoon.
The wing funded in Eleanor's memory.
The wing whose ribbon Richard had cut while the people responsible for her death stood in Eleanor's memory.
The wing whose ribbon Richard had cut while the people responsible for her death stood among the guests.
And somewhere downstairs, Edward was being questioned by the police.
Before Richard could speak, Detective Bennett's phone rang.
She listened for several seconds, among the guests.
And somewhere downstairs, Edward was being questioned by the police.
Before Richard could speak, Detective Bennett's phone rang.
She listened for several seconds, then looked at him.
“Mr. Whitmore, we have a problem.””
“What now?””
“Dr. Carter has left the hospital. His office has been cleared, and his home address is empty.””
She lowered then looked at him.
“Mr. Whitmore, we have a problem.””
“What now?””
“Dr. Carter has left the hospital. His office has been cleared, and his home address is empty.””
May you like
She lowered the phone.
“Someone warned him.””
