The Notary's Name

The person upstairs knew the inn better than Elise did.

By the time Roslyn came through the front door and Theo reached the stairs, the back hallway window was open and rain blew across the floorboards. A muddy shoe print marked the sill.

Greta looked furious, not scared. "New carpet."

Elise picked up the paper left on the runner. "They left something."

Roslyn took it with gloves. It was a copy of Martin's life policy declaration page. Face amount: ten million dollars. Owner: Hart Vale Foundation. Beneficiary: Claire Hart.

Across the bottom, someone had written in black marker:

Ask your sister why she needs him dead too.

Theo read it over Roslyn's shoulder. "That is meant to split you."

"It may still be true," Elise said.

Greta snorted. "Both is popular in this family."

Roslyn photographed the muddy print. "Claire may not even know."

Elise thought of Claire signing blank forms, Claire visiting Ruby, Claire refusing to explain June's place in the family. "She knows something."

Greta poured tea with a shaking hand she pretended was steady. "Vivian knew Martin would turn you all against each other. She planned for that."

"Did she plan for Lenora dying?" Elise asked.

Greta looked down. "Vivian planned better on paper than with people."

That was the cleanest description of Elise's mother she had ever heard.

Ruby knocked on the back doorframe, escorted by a patrol officer. "I saw who ran."

Roslyn turned. "Who?"

Ruby swallowed. "A woman. Brown coat. Short hair. She came to St. Agnes with Claire."

"Name."

"I do not know."

Greta did. Her face changed before she spoke.

"Mara Kline," she said. "Vivian's private notary. She disappeared the week Robert's beneficiary changed."

Elise looked at the open window.

A notary could make forged signatures into doors.

And someone had just opened every one.