Chapter 9 - THE LAST PERSON AT THE LAKE
That evening, Claire returned to the terrace.
The white roses had been removed. The tables were gone. Only faint marks
remained where the chairs had stood.
She walked to the place where Julian’s wheelchair had tipped.
The limestone edge was dry now.
A voice spoke behind her.
“You shouldn’t be out here alone.”
Julian rolled toward her.
“I wanted to see it.”
“Does it look different?”
“No. That’s the strange part.”
He stopped beside her.
“Andrew used to stand here when he was checking the security lights. He
said the terrace was beautiful but badly designed. Too much slope. Not
enough grip.”
Claire looked down.
“Did he ever report it?”
“Yes. Twice. The repair requests were closed without work being done.”
“By Gabriel?”
“By the estate office. The approvals came from Victoria.”
Julian looked across the water.
“She knew the terrace was unsafe.”
Claire’s throat tightened.
“Was that why she told everyone not to touch you?”
“I think she wanted the fall to look like an accident. The security
delay would make it harder to prove otherwise.”
They stood in silence.
Then Julian said, “I owe you an apology.”
“For what?”
“For letting you walk into this alone. Your brother tried to protect me,
and I failed him. Then you came here and risked your life because of a
message he left.”
“You didn’t know I was coming.”
“I knew Andrew was dead. I knew the report was wrong. I could have kept
pushing.”
Claire looked at him.
“You were injured. You had lost someone too.”
“I lost my ability to trust people. That is not the same as losing the
right to seek the truth.”
A car door slammed near the front drive.
Two investigators approached with a woman Claire did not recognize. She
carried a small leather bag and looked nervous.
“This is Dr. Elaine Porter,” one investigator said. “She treated
Mr. Vescari during his rehabilitation.”
Julian frowned.
“I thought you moved to Boston.”
“I did.”
The doctor looked at Claire, then at Julian.
“I need to tell you something about the medical reports.”
She explained that Victoria had contacted her months earlier, asking her
to sign an assessment stating that Julian was unable to make independent
financial decisions. Dr. Porter had refused because his cognitive
ability was intact.
A week later, her access to the estate had been revoked. Another
physician had been brought in.
“Did you tell anyone?” Julian asked.
“I sent a letter to the family attorney. I never received a reply.”
Malcolm checked the records on his tablet.
“The letter was logged as received.”
“Who signed for it?” Claire asked.
Malcolm looked at the screen.
“Peter Lang.”
Julian exhaled slowly.
Another person had known. Another person had looked away.
Dr. Porter handed over a copy of her original report. It confirmed that
Julian was mentally competent and capable of making decisions.
The investigators took it as evidence.
When they left, Julian looked at Claire.
“It’s over.”
She shook her head.
“Not until Andrew’s name is cleared.”
May you like
Julian nodded.
“Then that is what we do next.”
