Chapter 9: The Last Thing Eleanor Did
The formal complaint was filed on a Wednesday.
By Thursday morning, Eleanor's solicitor had contacted Richard's office three times.
By Thursday afternoon, he had stopped calling.
On Friday, a forensic document examiner was appointed by the court to review the property amendment and the second document bearing Julian's father's signature.
Eleanor was staying at a hotel in the city.
Julian knew this because her solicitor had provided a contact address as required.
He did not think about her there.
He had other things to think about.
Leo's trust documents were placed in secure storage with Richard's firm.
The county property amendment was flagged pending the forensic review.
Daniel's notary license was suspended while the licensing board conducted its inquiry.
On Saturday morning, Julian was in his study when Richard called.
"She made a move last night," Richard said.
Julian set down his pen.
"What kind of move?"
"She contacted the financial journalist at the Herald.
The one who covers estate disputes.
She gave him a story about your father's will and alleged irregularities in the probate process." A pause.
"The journalist called our office this morning for comment."
"What irregularities?"
"She's claiming your father intended to leave a portion of the estate to a charitable foundation and that you suppressed that instruction during probate." Richard's voice was careful.
"Julian.
Is there any basis for that claim?
Any document, any conversation, anything at all that she could have built this from?"
Julian looked at the window.
The grounds were bright in the morning light.
Leo was somewhere outside.
He had seen him from the upstairs window earlier, sitting under the oak tree near the east wall with a book.
"My father mentioned a foundation once," Julian said.
"In conversation.
Years before he d*ed.
He never formalized it.
There is no document.
No instruction.
Nothing in the will, nothing in any codicil, nothing in any letter." He paused.
"She is building something from nothing."
"I know.
But if it runs in the paper before the forensic review concludes, it creates a public narrative that complicates the complaint." Richard paused.
"I can call the journalist and provide the full probate record.
That should be enough to kill the story.
But I wanted you to know she's still fighting."
"She said she would."
"Yes." A pause.
"She also sent a letter to Leo."
Julian stood up.
"What?"
"It was delivered to the house this morning by courier.
Maya intercepted it and called me before giving it to Leo.
It's addressed to him directly." Richard's voice was even.
"It's an apology letter.
It says she was trying to protect the estate for both of them.
That you have been manipulated by outside parties.
That Leo should ask you about what really happened to his mother's personal estate after Caroline d*ed."
The study was very quiet.
"She is trying to turn him against me," Julian said.
"Yes."
"Does Leo know the letter exists?"
"Not yet."
Julian thought about Leo under the oak tree.
The book in his hands.
The way he had sat across the breakfast table two mornings ago with his orange juice and his steady hands and said, *you need to find out who in this house was helping her.*
"I'm going to give him the letter," Julian said.
Richard paused.
"Are you certain?"
"He's seventeen.
He is not a child.
And if I hide it from him and he finds out later, I become the person who kept things from him." Julian picked up his jacket.
"He can read it.
And then I'll answer any question he has."
He walked out of the study and across the lawn toward the oak tree.
Leo looked up when he heard footsteps.
He closed his book.
Julian held out the envelope.
"This came for you this morning.
It's from Eleanor.
You don't have to read it.
But I won't keep it from you."
Leo took it.
He looked at it for a moment.
Then he opened it.
Julian waited.
Leo read it slowly.
When he finished, he folded it once and held it in his lap.
"She mentions Mum's estate," Leo said.
"I know."
"Did something happen to it?"
"No," Julian said.
"Your mother's personal estate passed to you in trust exactly as her will directed.
Richard administered it.
Every penny is accounted for.
You can see the full record whenever you want."
Leo looked at the folded letter.
Then he held it out to Julian.
"Give it to Richard," he said.
"For the file."
Julian took it.
Leo picked up his book again.
"She really thought that would work."
"She's trying everything she has left."
Leo turned a page he probably wasn't reading.
"Is it almost over?"
Julian looked at the house.
The stone was warm in the morning light.
Caroline had loved this view.
May you like
She had said once that the house looked most like itself in autumn, when the ivy went red.
"Almost," Julian said.
