Chapter 11 - The Perfect Family
Sloane's father, Charles Whitmore, ran a discreet wealth-management business with offices in Boston and Manhattan. At charity dinners he spoke about service. At home, according to Sloane, he spoke almost exclusively about leverage.
Rachel found Sloane at a waterfront hotel. Her hair was dry again, but the skin beneath her eyes was swollen from crying. She agreed to speak with counsel present.
“My father introduced Victor to Daniel,” she admitted. “He said Harborstone could be rescued if the family property moved into a private trust.”
“Did you know where Nora was?” Rachel asked.
“I saw her once after she disappeared. She was alive, frightened, and asking for her grandma. My father told me he would hurt Daniel if I contacted anyone.”
Evelyn listened to the recorded interview with both hands clenched. “Why wear Nora's necklace?” she asked later, when Sloane agreed to meet her.
Sloane swallowed. “Charles made me. He said you were too proud to ask questions in public. If you noticed it, you'd make a scene. He wanted proof you were unstable before he demanded control of your company.”
“And you agreed?”
“I told myself I was protecting Nora by doing what he wanted.”
Evelyn held her gaze. “You were protecting yourself. There's a difference.”
Sloane accepted the words without argument. “Yes.”
She explained that the threatening cot picture had arrived on her phone just before the party. Victor demanded she dispose of the memory card Daniel had slipped into her purse. She had no idea what was on it.
“Why did Daniel give it to you?” Marcus asked.
“He said his father-in-law could fix anything. I think he hoped Charles would destroy it.”
“His former father-in-law was Grace's dad,” Evelyn corrected sharply. “Charles is not family. Not yet.”
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Sloane looked away. “He'll never let me testify.”
As she spoke, Rachel's phone rang. A colleague had found the Providence clinic's appointment ledger. One entry, made just four days earlier, listed a patient called Annie Wells. Age ten. Guardian: Victor Hale.
