count.”
Dorothy looked at Rachel.
“Exactly.”
Rachel stared at her.
“So I have a claim.”
“Yes.”
Calvin’s expression changed.
“And if Melissa also had a child…”
“Ava has another claim.”
Two branches.
Two granddaughters.
Two competing rights.
I finally saw Samuel’s motive.
“He needed Melissa gone.”
Dorothy shook her head.
“Not originally.”
“Then what?”
“He needed Melissa to convince you to restructure the trust.”
“But she refused.”
“Yes.”
Dorothy looked at Rachel.
“That’s where Rachel comes in.”
Rachel hugged herself.
“I still don’t understand.”
“Samuel brought you into Bellmore under another surname. You worked in compliance.”
A flicker moved across Rachel’s face.
A memory.
“Numbers.”
We all looked at her.
She touched her forehead.
“I remember spreadsheets.”
Dorothy nodded.
“You found irregularities too.”
Rachel closed her eyes.
“A basement office.”
“Yes.”
“A green binder.”
Dorothy leaned forward.
“What else?”
Rachel breathed faster.
“A man shouting.”
“Who?”
“I can’t see him.”
