Chapter 4
Forensic analysis confirmed the tea contained a toxic substance.
Investigators deliberately gave Ethan no technical details.
The important facts were simpler.
It had been introduced intentionally.
It was not a cleaning product.
It was not part of the tea.
And exposure could have caused serious illness.
Ethan sat beside Bennett.
“Could it have killed me?”
“Potentially.”
“Was that the plan?”
“We don’t know.”
Then the older biological samples from Caroline’s autopsy came back for expanded testing.
A related chemical marker appeared.
Not enough by itself to prove murder.
But enough to reopen every assumption about her death.
Ethan stared at the report.
“Nora did this before.”
Bennett said:
“We can say there is a concerning similarity.”
Ethan looked at her.
“You really hate conclusions.”
“I like conclusions that survive court.”
He almost smiled.
Then she handed him another report.
Nora’s burner phone contained messages.
Not all recovered.
Enough.
One contact:
M.G.
Michael Grant.
The Carter family attorney.
Ethan frowned.
“Michael?”
Messages:
NORA: He’s getting worse.
M.G.: Has physician certified incapacity?
NORA: Not yet.
M.G.: Then nothing transfers.
NORA: It will.
Another:
M.G.: Do not involve the child.
NORA: Lily is already involved.
Ethan felt cold.
Michael was brought in.
He arrived with his own attorney.
At first he refused to speak.
Then Bennett showed him the guardianship papers.
Michael closed his eyes.
“I drafted them.”
Ethan stared through the interview-room glass.
Bennett asked:
“Why?”
“Nora told me Ethan had neurological episodes.”
“Did you verify that?”
“She gave me medical letters.”
“From who?”
“Dr. Steven Hale.”
Ethan knew Hale.
His physician.
Bennett asked:
“Did you know Lily was being described as behaviorally disturbed?”
“Yes.”
“Did you meet Lily?”
“No.”
“Then why prepare documents?”
Michael looked ashamed.
“Contingency planning.”
Bennett placed Caroline’s old emails in front of him.
“Did you prepare contingency planning for Caroline too?”
Michael stopped.
Ethan’s pulse changed.
“Yes.”
“What kind?”
“Temporary financial management.”
“Why?”
“Nora said Caroline was suffering postpartum paranoia.”
Ethan stared.
It had started before Caroline died.
Michael continued.
“I never thought anyone would be hurt.”
Bennett asked:
“What were you trying to transfer?”
“Trust management.”
“To Nora?”
“Yes.”
“Why Nora?”
“She was the finance adviser.”
Ethan closed his eyes.
Michael had helped create the same structure twice.
First Caroline.
Now Ethan.
“What happened after Caroline died?” Bennett asked.
Michael whispered:
“Nora told me the problem was resolved.”
Ethan stood so quickly his chair scraped.
Bennett looked through the glass.
She understood.
Problem.
May you like
His wife had become a problem.
Her death resolved it.
