Lenora Vanishes

Lenora Pike was not at St. Agnes when Roslyn called.

The hospice administrator said she had left early with a migraine. The staffing coordinator said she had never come in. The security guard remembered her badge, her coat, and the black town car waiting under the awning.

Elise heard the three versions from Roslyn's speaker and felt the pattern settle into place.

"Someone moved her," Elise said.

Martin stood across the private-client suite with his hands in his pockets. "Or she went home."

Roslyn looked at him. "Do you always answer questions before they are asked?"

"I am trying to reduce hysteria."

"Then stop creating it."

Adam sat with his elbows on his knees, breathing through his mouth. The private lender account had broken him open, but not enough. He was scared of Martin and more scared of whoever wanted forty thousand dollars by noon.

Elise crouched in front of him. "What did the money buy?"

"Time."

"From whom?"

"You do not want those people near you."

"Adam, I am legally dead. Improve the list."

He gave one rough laugh, then looked at Claire. "Martin said the foundation could cover it if I signed a resolution. He said the death claim made it clean."

"Clean for whom?" Roslyn asked.

Adam shut down.

Theo's tablet chimed. "Lenora's employee profile was accessed eight minutes ago from a HartLine admin login."

Martin's face stayed smooth. "Hundreds of people have access to legacy systems."

"Not to deleted nurse intake files," Theo said.

Claire made a small sound. "Deleted?"

Elise stood. "What did Lenora verify?"

Theo turned the tablet. The record showed Lenora had verified the death of Elise Hart with two witnesses. One witness field was blank. The other carried a digital signature.

Claire Hart.

June looked at her mother.

"Say that is forged," June said.

Claire opened her mouth.

Nothing came out.