Chapter 2 - The Police Were Already Coming
Claire knew the officers could not have arrived because of Eleanor.
No one had made a call yet.
The younger officer raised his hands. “Everyone stay where you are.”
Daniel looked startled, but Claire saw the calculation behind his eyes.
Officer Marcus Hale stepped toward the table. “We received a report of a domestic disturbance at this address.”
“What report?” Claire asked.
Daniel answered first. “I have no idea.”
Hale’s gaze dropped to the spilled wine, Eleanor’s collapsed body, and Claire’s purse near Daniel’s chair.
The room went quiet.
“Call paramedics,” Hale ordered.
His partner did.
Claire moved toward Eleanor.
Daniel blocked her.
“Don’t touch her.”
Claire stared at him. “You poisoned her.”
A ripple of shock moved through the guests.
Daniel gave a broken laugh. “Claire, stop.”
“I saw you.”
“You’re upset.”
“I saw the packet in your hand.”
Hale turned sharply. “What packet?”
Daniel’s face fell into careful confusion.
Claire pointed at her purse. “He put it in there.”
Daniel lowered his voice. “Honey, what are you talking about?”
That word—honey—nearly made her slap him.
Hale asked Claire to step away from the bag.
“Open it,” she said.
“Claire,” Daniel warned.
“Open it.”
Hale pulled on gloves and searched the purse.
Wallet. Lipstick. Keys. Phone.
Then the white packet.
Every guest stopped moving.
Daniel covered his mouth.
“Oh my God.”
Claire felt the trap close.
“That isn’t mine.”
Hale looked at her. “We’ll determine that.”
“It was in his hand.”
Daniel shook his head, tears forming in his eyes with sickening speed. “Why would I hurt my mother?”
Claire’s voice cracked. “I don’t know.”
But that was a lie.
She did know one possible reason.
Three weeks earlier, Eleanor had changed the Whitmore family trust.
Daniel had been furious.
Paramedics rushed in and began working over Eleanor. Claire heard words like pulse, oxygen, transport.
Then Rosa appeared beside her and whispered without looking at her.
“Do not go with the police.”
Claire turned.
Rosa’s face was pale.
“You saw him too?” Claire whispered.
Rosa swallowed.
“No. But Mrs. Whitmore expected something to happen tonight.”
Claire’s blood ran cold.
“What?”
Rosa pressed something small into Claire’s palm: a brass key.
“Her private desk. Study. Bottom drawer.”
Officer Hale stepped toward Claire.
“Mrs. Whitmore, I need you to come with us voluntarily.”
Daniel watched from across the room.
May you like
Rosa whispered one last sentence.
“Whatever you do, don’t let your husband know Eleanor left you the evidence.”
