Chapter 7: Monday Morning
Daniel called at seven forty-three.
I was already awake.
I had been awake since five, sitting by the window with the tea Petra had made the night before reheated in a blue mug, watching the city come on in the dark.
"The footage arrived," Daniel said.
"Harlan's attorney delivered the original drive at six this morning.
Our forensic team authenticated it by seven."
"And?"
"It's clean.
No editing, no gaps.
Timestamp matches the hospital records.
Graham is on camera for eleven minutes in that corridor." A pause.
"Eleanor, his hand is on yours for the entire duration of the signing."
I set the mug down.
"What's the exposure?" I said.
"Fraud.
Forgery.
Exploitation of a vulnerable adult — that last one carries a significant enhancement in this state." Another pause, shorter.
"I've already spoken to the DA's office.
They've been looking at Graham Whitaker for eighteen months on a separate matter — something involving his investment fund and a group of retired teachers in Ohio.
Your case gives them the predicate they needed."
"The DA's office has been investigating him separately."
"Yes."
I looked out the window.
A delivery truck was making its way up the street below, slow and steady.
"When?" I said.
"They'll execute the warrant this week.
Probably Wednesday or Thursday." Daniel's voice was careful now, the way it got when he was managing something he knew would land hard.
"Eleanor, when this goes public — and it will go public — it's going to be significant.
His name, the fund, the teachers in Ohio, the footage.
All of it together."
"I know."
"Are you prepared for that?"
I thought about the question seriously, the way Daniel deserved.
"I built Whitaker Capital from a $40,000 loan," I said.
"I ran it for twelve years.
I survived a stroke that my doctors said would leave me unable to communicate.
I sat in a corner of that man's wedding and let his new mother-in-law pour gravy on me in front of three hundred people because I needed witnesses." I picked the mug back up.
"Yes, Daniel.
I'm prepared."
He was quiet for a moment.
"There's one more thing," he said.
"Tell me."
"Victoria Ardell was at the DA's office at six-thirty this morning.
Before our footage arrived.
She was there to offer information about Graham — preemptively.
She's trying to position herself as a cooperating witness."
The mug was warm in my hand.
"She's turning on him," I said.
"She's trying to," Daniel said.
"Whether the DA accepts her cooperation depends on what she actually knows and what exposure she has herself.
The recording from the garage last night has been submitted.
The DA is aware of the intimidation attempt."
"So she may face her own charges."
"It's possible.
It depends on what Harlan tells them separately.
They are no longer represented by the same attorney as of this morning."
I thought about Savannah, standing under the orchids with her bouquet dropping two inches in her hands.
"What about Savannah?" I said.
"She called our office at nine last night," Daniel said.
"She wants to speak with you directly.
She said she has additional documentation — communications between her mother and Graham going back three years.
She found them on a shared family server."
"She's cooperating."
"She's cooperating," Daniel confirmed.
I sat with that.
"Tell her I'll speak with her," I said.
"This week.
Somewhere quiet."
"I'll arrange it," Daniel said.
"Eleanor — this is going to move quickly now.
Are you ready for quickly?"
Outside, the delivery truck had stopped.
May you like
The driver was carrying boxes up a front step, one at a time, steady and unhurried.
"I've been ready for eighteen months," I said.
