Chapter 2 - THE CAMERA CAMILLE FORGOTThe hospital called Margaret fortunate.
She disliked the word.
Mild hypothermia.
Bruised shoulders.
A strained rotator cuff.
Scraped fingers.
No fractures.
Minimal aspiration.
“Another minute could have changed things,” the doctor said.
Margaret nodded.
That was what fortunate meant.
Not that something good happened.
Only that something worse did not.
Daniel sat beside her bed wearing damp trousers.
“You should change.”
“So should you.”
“I’m in a hospital gown.”
“Exactly.”
Margaret smiled faintly.
Then asked:
“You saw?”
“Yes.”
“How much?”
“Enough.”
“What did you hear?”
Daniel looked away.
“Something about me relying on her after you were gone.”
Margaret closed her eyes.
“I’m sorry.”
“For what?”
“She is your wife.”
Daniel looked at his mother.
“That is not your apology to make.”
Margaret squeezed his hand.
“You still love her.”
He did not answer.
“That doesn't disappear because she did something terrible.”
“No.”
His voice cracked.
Margaret saw the boy he had once been.
Not the forty-eight-year-old businessman.
Not the trust beneficiary.
Her son.
Then Tom arrived with Rachel Kim, the Hawthorne attorney.
Laptop.
Evidence.
The backup camera showed everything.
Margaret leaving the breakfast room.
Camille following.
Blocking the door.
Grabbing Margaret.
The push.
Margaret entering the pool backward.
Camille standing above her.
Margaret surfacing.
Reaching.
Camille stepping on her fingers.
Daniel stopped the video.
“No more.”
Rachel nodded.
“Certified copies.”
Tom said:
“There’s audio.”
Daniel stared.
Margaret wished there weren't.
But there was.
Camille’s voice filled the room.
Once you are out of the picture, Daniel will rely on me completely to manage his grief and his fortune.
Daniel slammed the laptop shut.
Rachel remained calm.
“We need the police.”
“They’re involved.”
“Good.”
Margaret looked at Rachel.
“There is more.”
Daniel turned.
“What?”
“Camille wanted me to sign an amendment.”
His face changed.
“What amendment?”
Margaret explained.
Temporary trustee authority would move from her to Daniel.
On its face, reasonable.
Then Rachel explained section two.
If Daniel became unavailable or medically unable to act, delegated control could move to his spouse.
Camille.
Daniel stared.
“I never approved that.”
“No.”
“Who drafted it?”
Rachel said:
“Not our office.”
Margaret added:
“Camille brought it.”
Daniel stood.
“So she tried to force Mom into signing a document that would eventually give her control?”
Rachel raised a hand.
“Potentially.”
Daniel glared.
“You lawyers love words like potentially.”
“We love not getting sued.”
Margaret smiled.
“I like Rachel.”
Daniel ignored her.
Then Tom received a message.
Camille had left the house.
Daniel reached for his phone.
Rachel stopped him.
“Don't call her.”
“She tried to kill my mother.”
“Exactly why you should not call.”
“I want her location.”
“Police can obtain it.”
Daniel clenched his jaw.
Rachel continued:
“And do not start freezing accounts yourself.”
He stared.
“How did you know?”
“Rich men experiencing betrayal always want to press a financial button.”
Margaret laughed and immediately regretted it when her shoulder hurt.
Daniel looked offended.
“I wasn't going to steal her money.”
“No.”
“You were going to secure everything.”
“Yes.”
“Court orders.”
“Yes.”
“Fraud protocols.”
“Yes.”
“Not revenge.”
Daniel exhaled.
“Yes.”
That distinction would become important.
May you like
Because within forty-eight hours, the investigators discovered that Camille had not merely been planning future control.
Money had already been moving.
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