Chapter 12 - THE HOSPITAL WING
Ethan lay in a private room at New York-Presbyterian.
The doctors found residual traces of the same neuromuscular agent in his blood.
Low dose.
Not enough to kill.
Yet.
William sat on one side of the bed.
Emma sat on the other.
Detective Miller stood at the foot.
“We lost them at the waterfront,” he said.
“Frank had a boat ready. Isabella’s arm was treated at a private clinic in New Jersey under a false name. They’re in the wind.”
William’s voice was raw.
“How did they get into the house?”
Miller held up a small electronic device.
“This was found in the West Wing. A remote power cut linked to the security system. Someone on the inside helped.”
Emma looked up.
“Who?”
Miller’s face was grim.
“The private nurse we left with Ethan tonight. She’s gone. Her real name is Lena Vance. Frank’s cousin.”
Silence filled the room.
Ethan stirred.
His eyes opened.
“Emma,” he whispered.
“I’m here.”
He reached for her hand.
“They said they were going to take everything. The house. The foundation. Everything Mom left.”
Emma squeezed his fingers.
“They won’t.”
Miller cleared his throat.
“There’s more. The holographic will. Our experts confirmed the signature is real. Eleanor did sign it. Three days before she died.”
William stared.
“That’s impossible.”
Miller opened a folder.
“Isabella visited Eleanor the day the will was signed. The nurses noted she brought flowers and stayed alone with her for twenty minutes. Eleanor was already heavily medicated.”
Emma’s blood turned cold.
“She forced her.”
“Or manipulated her,” Miller said.
“Either way the will is valid until we can prove coercion. And right now we can’t.”
William stood.
“Then we fight it in court.”
Miller nodded.
May you like
“We will. But until then Isabella still has legal standing as temporary guardian if anything happens to you.”
The implication hung in the air like smoke.
