Chapter 6: The Man Who Called
His name was Thomas Greer.
Julian met him the following morning at Richard's office, at Thomas's request.
Thomas was fifty-one, wore a jacket that had been expensive once, and sat with the careful posture of someone who had rehearsed this meeting many times in his head before arriving.
He placed a manila envelope on the table without being asked.
"My father was Gerald Greer," he said.
"He was a widower.
Retired.
Comfortable but not wealthy.
He met a woman named Elaine Marsh at a charity function in 2017." He nodded at the envelope.
"Elaine Marsh is Eleanor Ashworth.
Same woman.
Different name."
Richard opened the envelope.
Julian watched Thomas.
"My father married her eleven months after they met," Thomas continued.
"Eight months after the wedding, he signed documents transferring his investment portfolio into a joint account.
Four months after that, he had a stroke." A pause.
"He survived.
But his capacity was affected.
Eleanor — Elaine — filed for guardianship."
Richard looked up from the documents.
"My father's own lawyer challenged it," Thomas said.
"The case ran for fourteen months.
By the time the court denied her guardianship application, the joint account had been drawn down to almost nothing." He looked at Julian.
"She left the day after the ruling.
My father d*ed the following year.
There was very little left."
The room was quiet.
Julian looked at the documents Richard had spread across the table.
Photographs.
Court filings.
A marriage certificate.
A dissolution record.
A bank statement with a highlighted row near the bottom.
"She changed her name," Julian said.
"Eleanor Marsh became Eleanor Voss after the dissolution.
Then Eleanor Voss became Eleanor Cole.
I lost track of her after that." Thomas folded his hands.
"I found you through a property filing alert.
My solicitor set one up years ago on the chance she resurfaced using similar methods.
The county amendment filing triggered it."
Richard set down a photograph.
It was Eleanor.
Younger, different hair, but unmistakably Eleanor.
Standing beside an older man outside what appeared to be a registry office.
"She targets estates," Richard said.
It was not a question.
"She targets men who have something to protect and someone they might overlook," Thomas said.
He looked at Julian directly.
"Your son.
She needed him out of the house because he was the one person paying close enough attention."
Julian thought about Leo in the hallway.
Listening.
Watching.
Seventeen years old and already understanding something Julian had missed for three years.
"What do you need from me?" Julian asked.
"Nothing," Thomas said.
"I've already given a full statement to my solicitor.
He's prepared to submit it to your legal team and to the relevant authorities if you choose to pursue a formal complaint." He paused.
"I'm not here for money.
I'm here because my father spent his last year in a care home with almost nothing.
And because I should have found her sooner."
Julian stood and extended his hand.
Thomas shook it.
After Thomas left, Richard gathered the documents carefully.
"This changes the forgery case significantly.
Pattern of conduct across multiple jurisdictions.
Prior use of false identity.
Prior financial exploitation." He looked at Julian.
"She will not be able to dismiss this as a domestic disagreement."
Julian nodded.
He was looking at the photograph of Eleanor outside the registry office.
The older man beside her was smiling.
Eleanor was smiling too.
She looked completely genuine.
"She's very good," Julian said quietly.
"Yes," Richard said.
"She is."
Julian set the photograph down.
"Make sure Leo never sees this."
"He'll find out eventually."
"Eventually is not today." Julian picked up his jacket.
"What time can you file the formal complaint?"
"This afternoon."
"Then let's not wait."
He was at the door when Richard spoke again.
"Julian.
Eleanor said last night that she had information about decisions you made after your father's d*ath.
Things your board doesn't know."
Julian stopped.
"Is there anything I should know before this becomes public?"
A long pause.
"No," Julian said.
"There isn't."
May you like
He walked out.
Richard watched the door close and reached for the phone.
