Chapter 8 - WHAT NORA TOOK FROM THE STUDY
Nora had been inside the Hart townhouse that afternoon.
She had not told anyone.
Evelyn learned from the front-door camera.
2:12 p.m.
Nora entering.
3:06 p.m.
Nora leaving.
When detectives asked, Nora admitted it immediately.
Evelyn did not.
She confronted her first.
Bad choice.
She knew it the second Nora saw the footage on her tablet.
“You pulled security before police finished reviewing it?”
“I own the system.”
“That doesn't mean you should interfere with the investigation.”
“I didn't delete anything.”
“You decided you deserved the answer first.”
Evelyn stopped.
That was true.
Again.
She had spent days furious that everyone else pre-managed truth.
Then did a smaller version herself.
She handed the footage to detectives before asking another question.
Only afterward did she speak with Nora.
“What happened at two twelve?”
Nora looked exhausted.
“Adrian asked me to come.”
“Why?”
“He had found Conrad's letter reference.”
“Not the letter itself.”
“No.”
“What did you talk about?”
“The funeral directive.”
That surprised Evelyn.
Adrian had already visited Whitmore & Bell the previous day.
He told Nora he felt foolish doing it.
Then said:
“I've spent thirty years watching my family convert problems into paperwork. I want one piece of paper they can't outvote if I die.”
Nora asked if someone had threatened him.
He said no.
Not directly.
But he expected a confrontation with Julian.
He also had been dizzy twice that week.
Evelyn stared.
“He didn't tell me.”
“No.”
“Did he see a doctor?”
“He said he had an appointment Monday.”
Adrian died Saturday.
Then Nora said:
“He fell.”
Evelyn went completely still.
“When?”
“That afternoon.”
There.
Adrian stood too quickly from the desk.
Lost balance.
Caught his foot against the rug.
His shoulder struck a bookcase.
Then the side of his head clipped the marble edge of the fireplace.
Nora rushed toward him.
He stayed conscious.
Angry.
Embarrassed.
Refused an ambulance.
“Was there blood?”
“A little.”
“Behind his ear?”
“Yes.”
The same injury.
Evelyn stared at her.
“You let him stay alone.”
“He wasn't alone. Staff were downstairs.”
“You left.”
“He ordered me to.”
“He wasn't your father or your employer at that point.”
“He was literally my employer.”
Nora snapped.
Then stopped.
Both women breathed.
Nora continued.
“I should have called someone.”
“Yes.”
“I know.”
“Me.”
“Yes.”
“Or 911.”
“Yes.”
“Why didn't you?”
Nora looked at the floor.
“Because I had known him seven months and spent all seven trying not to become another person in his life who decided I knew better.”
That was understandable.
Still wrong.
Nora owned it.
She had sent Adrian a text twenty minutes later.
Please let me call Evelyn. Head injuries aren't something to prove a point about.
Adrian replied:
No. I'm fine. Tell her after I tell her about you.
Then:
Tonight. No more delays.
Evelyn read that twice.
Adrian planned to tell her about Nora that night.
He never got the chance.
Then she asked:
“What did you take from the study?”
Nora stared.
“The detective said you left carrying an envelope.”
“Yes.”
“What?”
“Adrian gave it to me.”
Inside were photocopies of Celeste's letters and a backup drive of the family research.
Why take it?
Adrian feared Julian might destroy documents in anger.
Evelyn asked:
“Did you think Julian was dangerous?”
“No.”
“Then why hide evidence?”
“Because destroying paper does not require being dangerous.”
Fair.
Then:
“Where is the drive?”
“With my lawyer.”
“Police?”
“Have a copy.”
Evelyn nodded.
Good.
No more private evidence.
Then the detective called.
Another camera had been recovered.
Not inside the study.
Across the street.
A neighbor's building.
At 8:51 p.m., Julian exited the Hart townhouse.
At 8:54—
he went back inside.
He did not emerge again until 9:17.
Two minutes after the housekeeper called 911.
May you like
Julian had lied twice about when he left.
And this time there was no dead patriarch available to blame for teaching him how.
