Chapter 10 - The Practice Pages
Marco searched Gloria’s suite with police present.
Inside a locked travel case, they found a notary stamp, blank corporate forms, photocopies of Valentina’s passport, and pages covered in signatures.
Valentina Reyes.
Nathan Caldwell.
Rachel Kim.
Even Elliot’s childish printed name.
Valentina stared at the practice sheets.
“How long?”
The detective turned one page over.
Dates had been written in the corner.
The earliest was eighteen months old.
Nathan sat down hard.
“Eighteen months?”
Rachel said, “This wasn’t a wedding scheme. The wedding was the deadline.”
“Why tomorrow?” Valentina asked.
The detective handed her a copy of the transfer schedule.
“Because your father’s estate restriction expires tomorrow at noon.”
Valentina remembered the clause. For seven years after her father’s death, Blackthorn could not be sold or divided without her direct notarized consent.
Tomorrow ended the seven years.
Gloria had planned the closing for the first morning it could legally happen.
Nathan whispered, “She’s been waiting.”
Valentina looked toward the hallway where Elliot slept under guard.
“She slapped him because he took a cupcake.”
“No,” Rachel said.
Everyone looked at her.
Rachel held up a catering invoice.
“The cupcake table was next to the venue folder station. Elliot told us the waitress gave him permission. He wandered over there.”
Valentina understood.
“He saw something.”
Rachel nodded.
They woke Elliot gently and asked if he remembered anything.
He rubbed his eyes.
“Grandma was putting papers in Aunt Serena’s white bag.”
“What papers?”
“The ones with Mommy’s name.”
“Did anyone else see?”
Elliot nodded.
“Uncle Grant.”
May you like
Nathan’s brother.
The one man who had disappeared from the wedding before the slap.
