Chapter 6: The Woman They Blamed
The silence that followed Eleanor's confession was unbearable.
Nia stared at her mother.
"You gave Grandpa his medicine?""
Eleanor nodded.
"Yes.""
"What medicine?""
"The heart medication his doctor prescribed.""
Nia shook her head.
"Then why did Richard say it like that?""
Eleanor looked toward the window.
"Because your grandfather died three hours later.""
Marcus stepped forward.
"Wait. Are you saying someone accused you of poisoning Daniel?""
Eleanor nodded.
"They did.""
Nia felt the room tilt.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because I was afraid you would believe them.""
"Believe what?""
Eleanor wiped her eyes.
"That I killed my own father.""
Nia stepped backward.
For years, she had imagined her mother's disappearance as a tragic decision made out of fear.
Now she was discovering that it had been built around something much darker.
"Tell me everything.""
Eleanor took a breath.
"It was a Thursday evening. Your grandfather had been working in his study. He was tired, but he insisted on reviewing some documents before going to bed.""
She looked at the old notebook.
"He had discovered the missing money. He was preparing to confront Victor and Richard the next morning.""
Marcus folded his arms.
"What happened?""
"Daniel complained about chest pain. I brought him his medication and a glass of water.""
"Was anyone else there?"" Nia asked.
"Victor had visited earlier. Richard arrived shortly after dinner.""
Nia frowned.
"Why was Richard there?""
"Your grandfather had summoned him.""
"Did they argue?""
Eleanor nodded.
"Your grandfather accused Richard of approving illegal transfers. Richard denied everything. Then Victor arrived and told them the records were incomplete.""
Marcus looked at the ledger.
"Did Victor bring anything?""
"A leather briefcase.""
Eleanor paused.
"After he left, your grandfather asked me to bring him the blue folder from his desk. He said he wanted to make copies before morning.""
"Did you?""
"Yes.""
"And the medicine?""
Eleanor's eyes filled.
"I gave it to him around ten. He thanked me, kissed my forehead, and told me he loved me.""
She stopped.
Nia reached for her hand.
"Then what?""
"At around midnight, I heard something fall in the study. I ran inside. Your grandfather was on the floor.""
Eleanor's voice broke.
"I called an ambulance. But by the time they arrived...""
She couldn't finish.
Marcus looked at her.
"What did the doctors say?""
"Cardiac arrest.""
"Was an autopsy performed?""
Eleanor shook her head.
"No. Victor said Daniel had a known heart condition. He arranged the funeral and told everyone there was no reason to investigate further.""
Nia's expression hardened.
"Who told the police about the medicine?""
"Richard.""
Marcus frowned.
"Why?""
"He claimed I had been acting strangely. He said I had access to Daniel's medication and had been arguing with him about the company.""
Nia felt anger rising.
"That's a lie.""
Eleanor nodded.
"But there was a problem.""
"What problem?""
"The bottle.""
Marcus stepped closer.
"What about it?""
Eleanor looked down.
"The medication bottle was replaced.""
Nia froze.
"What?""
"After the ambulance arrived, I went back to the study. The bottle on the desk wasn't the one I had brought him. The label was the same, but the pills were different.""
Marcus's expression changed.
"Did you tell the police?""
"I tried. But Victor's lawyer was already there. He told me that if I made accusations without proof, I would be charged with tampering with evidence.""
Nia stared at her mother.
"Why didn't you tell me any of this?""
"Because the next morning, someone came to my apartment.""
"Who?""
"A man I had never seen before. He showed me photographs of you leaving university. Then he told me they knew where you slept.""
Eleanor squeezed her daughter's hand.
"He said that if I wanted you to live, I would disappear and never speak about Daniel's death again.""
Nia's eyes filled with tears.
"You should have told me.""
"I know.""
"You should have trusted me.""
"I know, sweetheart.""
Nia turned away.
She wanted to embrace her mother.
She wanted to scream.
She wanted to go back six years and change everything.
But none of those things could undo what had happened.
Marcus broke the silence.
"We need to find the original medical records.""
Eleanor nodded.
"There was a doctor. Dr. Thomas Bennett. He treated your grandfather for years.""
"Where is he now?"" Nia asked.
"Retired. I believe he lives outside Boston.""
Marcus immediately took out his phone.
"I'll contact him.""
Nia looked at the ledger.
"First, I want to know what happened to the original bottle.""
Eleanor looked toward the old desk.
"Your grandfather kept copies of important medical records in the same safe as his financial documents.""
"Where is the safe?""
"Behind the bookcase.""
Marcus walked toward the shelves.
He examined the wall and found a small metal panel.
Behind it was a keypad.
He tried the date of Daniel's birth.
Nothing.
Then Nia remembered something.
"Try October fourteenth.""
Marcus looked at her.
"What's that?""
"Grandpa's favorite day.""
"His birthday?""
"No. The day he opened his first business.""
Marcus entered the numbers.
A green light appeared.
The safe clicked open.
Inside were several documents, a small velvet box, and a sealed medical envelope.
Nia carefully removed the envelope.
The paper was yellowed, but the handwriting was clear.
*DANIEL COLE — MEDICATION REVIEW.*
She opened it.
Inside were copies of prescriptions, laboratory reports, and a toxicology screening.
Marcus leaned over her shoulder.
"Read that again.""
Nia looked at the final page.
The report stated that traces of a substance called digoxin had been found in Daniel's bloodstream at a concentration far above his prescribed dosage.
Eleanor covered her mouth.
"That's what they found?""
Nia nodded.
"But he was taking medication for his heart.""
Marcus read the page again.
"Digoxin is used to treat certain heart conditions. In excessive amounts, it can be toxic.""
Eleanor's knees weakened.
"So he was poisoned.""
Nia held the document tightly.
"It looks that way.""
Marcus examined the date.
"Wait.""
He pointed to a line near the bottom.
The toxicology report had been requested by Daniel's personal physician two days before his death.
But the official report had been filed three days afterward.
Nia frowned.
"Why would they wait?""
Marcus checked the signature.
"Because this isn't the original doctor's report.""
He turned the page.
The signature belonged to another physician.
Dr. Alan Pierce.
Eleanor stared at it.
"I don't know that name.""
Marcus looked at her.
"Neither do I.""
Nia turned the page over.
A handwritten note appeared on the back.
Do not release the original results to the family. Await instructions from V. Hale.
Marcus went completely still.
"Victor.""
Nia placed the papers on the desk.
"Someone ordered the original results hidden.""
"Yes.""
"Then we need the original doctor.""
Marcus nodded.
"I'll find him.""
Before he could make another call, his phone rang.
The screen showed an unfamiliar number.
He answered.
"Marcus Cole.""
A man's voice responded.
"Mr. Cole, this is Dr. Bennett.""
Marcus looked at Nia.
"Dr. Bennett?""
"Yes. I received your message.""
"Thank you for calling. We have questions about Daniel Cole's death.""
The doctor was silent for several seconds.
Then he spoke.
"I've been waiting six years for someone to ask.""
Eleanor began to cry.
Marcus moved closer to the phone.
"Doctor, did you examine Daniel's blood samples?""
"Yes.""
"What did you find?""
A long pause.
"His prescribed medication had been deliberately contaminated.""
Nia closed her eyes.
The words confirmed what they had feared.
"Do you have proof?"" she asked.
The doctor seemed surprised.
"Who is this?""
"My name is Nia Carter. Daniel was my grandfather.""
Another silence.
Then his voice softened.
"I remember you. You were a little girl when I last saw you.""
"Do you still have the original records?""
"Yes.""
"Where?""
"At my home. I've kept them in a locked cabinet.""
Marcus asked, "Can we meet you tomorrow?""
The doctor hesitated.
"I would prefer not to discuss this over the telephone.""
"Understood.""
"Come alone.""
Marcus frowned.
"Why?""
The doctor's voice became quieter.
"Because the last time I spoke to someone about Daniel's death, my wife received a visit from two men who told her to forget what she had heard.""
Nia felt cold.
"Doctor, are you in danger?""
"I believe so.""
Then he added:
"There's something else you should know.""
Nia leaned toward the phone.
"What?""
"The substance in Daniel's medicine wasn't introduced by someone who entered his house that night.""
Marcus exchanged a look with her.
"How do you know?""
"Because the contamination began several days earlier.""
Eleanor slowly sat down.
Nia stared at the telephone.
"Someone had access to his medication before the night he died.""
"Exactly.""
"Who had access?""
The doctor answered without hesitation.
"Only three people had authorized access to the locked medicine cabinet.""
Nia's heart pounded.
"Who?""
"Daniel's daughter, Eleanor.""
Eleanor went pale.
"That's impossible.""
The doctor continued.
"His personal physician, me.""
Marcus leaned closer.
"And the third?""
The doctor paused.
"His executive assistant, who collected his prescriptions and managed his daily schedule.""
Nia looked toward the photograph on the desk.
Evelyn Brooks.
The woman who had welcomed her back.
The woman who had hugged her in the boardroom.
The woman who had supposedly spent years protecting Daniel's legacy.
Marcus slowly lowered the phone.
Nia whispered, "Evelyn.""
But the doctor wasn't finished.
His voice returned through the speaker.
"Miss Carter, there's one more thing. I found a document among Daniel's medical records that may explain everything.""
"What document?""
"A handwritten note from your grandfather.""
"What does it say?""
The doctor took a breath.
"It says that if anything happened to him, you should never trust the woman who raised you.""
Nia looked at Eleanor.
Her mother shook her head, horrified.
"That isn't possible," Eleanor whispered.
The doctor continued.
"The note doesn't name the person. But it describes something very specific.""
"What?""
"Your grandfather wrote that the person responsible would have access to his medication, his business accounts, and his private correspondence.""
Marcus's expression darkened.
Nia stared at the closed safe.
Three people.
Three possible suspects.
And one person who had been standing beside her throughout the entire investigation.
Her mother.
Her mother's hands began to shake.
"Daniel knew," Eleanor whispered.
"He knew someone close to us was doing this.""
Nia reached for her hand.
"Mom, I don't believe you did this.""
Eleanor looked at her daughter.
"But what if he believed I did?""
Before Nia could answer, Marcus's phone vibrated.
A new email had arrived.
The sender was listed as Evelyn Brooks.
The subject line read:
*EMERGENCY — BOARD VOTE TOMORROW.*
Marcus opened it.
His face changed immediately.
"What is it?"" Nia asked.
He turned the screen toward her.
The message contained an official notice.
Richard Whitmore had called an emergency board meeting for the following morning.
The proposed resolution was simple.
*REMOVE NIA CARTER AS CONTROLLING SHAREHOLDER ON GROUNDS OF MENTAL INCAPACITY AND FRAUDULENT CLAIM OF INHERITANCE.*
But that wasn't the worst part.
At the bottom of the document was the list of board members supporting the resolution.
Every single name was familiar.
And the final signature belonged to Evelyn Brooks.
Nia stared at it.
Her voice was barely audible.
"She signed it.""
Marcus looked toward the office door.
"Which means she's already chosen her side.""
Then Nia noticed something else.
The email had been sent five minutes earlier.
And attached to it was a photograph of Eleanor.
Taken inside the mansion.
Taken while they were standing in Daniel's study.
Someone had been watching them the entire time.
May you like
*And the photograph had been sent from inside the house.*
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