Tammy pointed to the old landline on the side table.
— Of course, honey. Use whatever you need.
Using her cell phone, Marina looked up the number for the law office “Peterson & Associates.” Then she dialed from Tammy’s phone.
— Peterson & Associates, good afternoon, — the receptionist answered.
— I need to speak with Peter Peterson. It’s urgent. Tell him Marina Sullivan is calling—Andrew’s wife and Eleanor Sullivan’s daughter-in-law.
A short pause.
— One moment, please.
Marina’s heart pounded. At last she heard the familiar voice.
— Mrs. Sullivan? — the attorney sounded surprised. — How did you get this number? Are you all right?
— I’m in Bright Hollow, — Marina said firmly. — At Eleanor’s house.
He let out a breath of surprise.
— At the country house? Andrew told me you were very ill and that he was out of town on business.
— Andrew lies, — she cut in. — About everything, Mr. Peterson. I went into the house. I found proof that Eleanor didn’t simply die of illness. My husband locked her up, withheld her medication, and left her to die while he lived there with his mistress and child. She wrote it down herself.
There was a heavy silence on the other end. Marina could almost picture the attorney rubbing his forehead.
— I suspected something, — he said at last. — Not this much. Not anything this awful. But things did not add up.
— What did you suspect? — Marina asked.
— Two months before her death, Eleanor called me in secret. She was frightened. Said Andrew was pressuring her to sign over control of all her property. She wanted to change her will. She did not want him to inherit anything. She wanted everything left to you—her daughter-in-law. The only person she trusted, even though she had barely seen you. She asked me to help her change the will legally.
Marina tightened her grip on the phone. The notebook had told the truth.
— I was preparing the paperwork when Andrew came to my office and said his mother was too ill to receive visitors or sign anything more. A month later he called to say she had died. He brought in a signed power of attorney and the old will. I knew something was wrong. But without evidence…
— Now we have it, — Marina said. — The notebook explains everything. The threats using my name. The pressure to sign. I also have proof of the second family, how he used the house, how he isolated his mother.
The attorney’s voice changed. It became colder, more focused.
— Listen to me carefully, Mrs. Sullivan. Don’t call the police yet. Andrew is clever. If he suspects we’ve uncovered him, he may run or destroy evidence. I’m leaving for Bright Hollow right now with my team, and I’ll work on getting an emergency order in place. It’ll take four or five hours to get there. Stay at Tammy Reed’s house. Do not go back into Eleanor’s house alone. And most important—do not speak to Andrew.
— There’s something else, — Marina added. — Andrew isn’t out of town like he says. He isn’t in another state.
She looked at Tammy and nodded, understanding the look on her face. Tammy took the phone.
— Mr. Peterson, this is Tammy Reed, Eleanor’s neighbor. Andrew didn’t go anywhere. He’s got another house in the next town over, New Hope. Big new place for that woman he lives with. Every time he tells Marina he’s on a business trip, he’s there. And every time he tells that woman he’s headed to the city, he’s with Marina. Man’s been running a two-track life, — she said bluntly.
The silence on the other end lasted even longer. The attorney was putting the whole puzzle together.
— In a way, that may help us, — he said finally. — We may be able to catch him in the middle of it. Mrs. Sullivan, Ms. Reed, lock the doors and wait for me. Don’t go anywhere. When I arrive, we’ll go together to New Hope and pull him out into the light.
— We’ll wait, — Marina said.
She hung up and sat down on the couch with Eleanor’s notebook in her lap. Tammy looked at her with a mix of horror and admiration.
— You’re a strong woman, honey, — she said softly.
