The Nurse Is Talking

Adam was still at the bank when Elise arrived with Roslyn behind her and Theo two steps ahead.

He stood at a private-client desk, sweating through his collar while a banker pretended not to notice the detective entering the room. In front of him lay Elise's death certificate, a foundation resolution, and a withdrawal slip.

"Tell me that is not your handwriting," Elise said.

Adam flinched. "It is not what it looks like."

"It looks like you are robbing a dead woman who is yelling at you."

The banker pushed back from the desk.

Roslyn picked up the withdrawal slip. "Forty thousand dollars. Emergency beneficiary disbursement. Authorized by Martin Vale and Adam Hart."

"Martin told me it was cleanup money," Adam said.

"For what?" Elise asked.

His eyes darted to Theo.

Theo's voice went flat. "Think hard before you make me your excuse."

Adam rubbed both hands over his face. "I owe money."

"Trading again?" Claire said from behind them.

Elise turned. Claire had followed with June, which meant family disaster still outranked police instructions.

Adam's shame curdled into anger. "Do not talk like you never signed anything Martin gave you."

Claire went white.

June looked between them. "Mom?"

Martin appeared at the glass entrance to the private-client suite. For once he did not look pleased. He looked interrupted.

"This is a privileged family matter," he said.

Roslyn lifted the withdrawal slip. "Not anymore."

Martin's eyes moved from Adam to Claire, then to June. He counted damage the way Elise counted claim inconsistencies.

"Adam is unwell," Martin said. "Vivian's death has destabilized him."

"Did Vivian's death destabilize your pen too?" Elise asked. "Because your signature is on his theft."

"It is not theft to protect estate assets."

Theo stepped forward. "Then explain why the destination account belongs to a private lender in Mercer County."

Adam made a small sound.

Martin did not.

His phone buzzed. He checked it, and for the first time that day, fear showed.

Elise saw the message preview before he turned the screen.

THE NURSE IS TALKING.