Chapter 6: What Marcus Knew
Marcus Hale had been her father's solicitor for twenty-two years.
Elena had met him at the funeral.
A thin man with careful eyes and a handshake that lasted exactly the right amount of time.
He had handed her a card at the reception and said, quietly, that if she ever had questions about the estate, she should feel free to call.
She had never called.
She called now.
He answered on the second ring, which told her he had been waiting.
"Elena." His voice was measured.
Careful.
"I wondered if I might hear from you today."
"Then you know why I'm calling."
A pause.
"I know that this morning's call may have caused some concern."
"You called my brother.
On a mountain.
At nine forty in the morning." Elena kept her voice level.
"I'd like to know what you said to him."
"I'm afraid I can't discuss the content of—"
"Marcus." She let the name sit for a moment.
"My father trusted you.
He trusted you for over two decades.
I am not calling to threaten you.
I am calling because I need to understand what is happening to his estate, and I believe you are the only person left who might tell me the truth."
Silence.
Then: "Are you somewhere private?"
"Yes."
Another pause.
Longer this time.
"There was a codicil," Marcus said.
"Filed fourteen months ago.
Eight months before your brother's wedding."
Elena's hand tightened on the phone.
"A codicil to my father's will."
"Yes."
"Filed by whom?"
"It was presented to me by your mother.
She had power of attorney at that point — your father's health had declined significantly.
The codicil amended the distribution of the estate." He stopped.
"Elena, I want you to understand — I raised concerns at the time.
I asked for a second opinion on your father's capacity.
Your mother provided documentation from his physician stating that he was competent to make decisions."
"Was he?"
A very long silence.
"I had doubts," Marcus said quietly.
"I should have pushed harder.
I have thought about that a great deal in the past fourteen months."
Sarah was watching Elena from the sofa.
Elena turned to face the window.
"What did the codicil change?" she asked.
"The original will divided the estate equally between you and your brother.
The codicil redirected your share — your entire share — into a discretionary trust controlled by your mother.
With Daniel named as the sole beneficiary upon your mother's death." He paused.
"Or upon certain other conditions."
"What conditions?"
"If you were to predecease your mother."
The window was very bright.
Elena focused on a point in the middle distance and kept her breathing even.
"So if I die," she said, "before my mother — Daniel receives everything."
"Yes."
"And if Sarah were to die — as Daniel's wife — what happens to her shares in her father's company?"
Marcus was quiet for a moment.
"That would depend on Sarah's own estate arrangements.
If she died intestate — without a valid will — her assets would pass to her next of kin.
As her husband, Daniel would be first in that line."
Elena turned around.
She looked at Sarah.
Sarah had heard enough of it.
Her face was very still.
"Marcus," Elena said.
"I need you to send me a copy of that codicil."
"Elena, I'm not certain I can—"
"You called my brother this morning because something changed.
Something made you pick up that phone.
What was it?"
A pause.
"I received a request yesterday," Marcus said slowly.
"From your mother's office.
She wants the discretionary trust dissolved and the assets transferred directly into Daniel's name." He stopped.
"Immediately.
Without the standard review period."
"Why the urgency?"
"She gave no reason.
But the timing—" He stopped again.
"Say it," Elena said.
"The timing coincides with your brother's wife's due date," Marcus said.
"Sarah is due in six weeks, is she not?"
Elena closed her eyes.
"Send me the codicil," she said.
"Please.
Send it today."
"If I do that—"
"You said you should have pushed harder.
This is you pushing harder." She waited.
"My father trusted you.
I'm asking you to deserve that."
The line was quiet for a long moment.
"I'll send it within the hour," Marcus said.
"Elena — be careful."
She ended the call.
Sarah was already standing.
"Six weeks," Sarah said.
"Yes."
"They needed it done before the baby comes.
Because once the baby is born, Daniel's claim through me becomes more complicated.
A child changes the inheritance line."
"Yes."
Sarah pressed one hand flat against her stomach.
Her voice was completely steady when she spoke.
"We need a lawyer," she said.
"Not Marcus.
Our own."
Elena was already reaching for her coat.
May you like
"I know one," she said.
"We're going now."
