Chapter 10 - MARIANNE HARROWMarianne arrived at the Kingsley estate in cream cashmere and pearls.
No visible panic.
At sixty-three, she carried herself like someone accustomed to walking into difficult rooms and controlling them.
Harrison did not shake her hand.
“You received money from Cresthaven.”
She sat.
“My investment firm did.”
“For what?”
“Advisory services.”
“Show me.”
“My attorneys will.”
“Did Amelia know?”
Marianne’s expression changed slightly.
“She asked questions.”
“Did you answer?”
“She became suspicious of everyone.”
“Convenient.”
Marianne looked toward the coffin hall beyond the study.
“You are grieving.”
Harrison almost smiled.
That sentence had become code for:
Your judgment can be dismissed.
Amelia had heard the same thing.
Pregnant.
Emotional.
Paranoid.
Harrison leaned forward.
“My grief does not alter bank statements.”
Marianne nodded.
“Fair.”
That surprised him.
Then she said:
“Julian made mistakes.”
“What mistakes?”
“He approved structures he did not fully understand.”
“You expect me to believe a man with an MBA accidentally approved millions to his mother?”
“I advised the company.”
“Through three shells?”
“Tax planning can look ugly.”
Harrison stared.
“Amelia believed it was fraud.”
“Amelia had become distrustful.”
Again.
Harrison’s voice sharpened.
“Do not diagnose my daughter.”
Marianne stopped.
He continued.
“Where were you the night she died?”
“At my home in Georgetown.”
Phone records confirmed.
Drivers confirmed.
Cameras confirmed.
She was not physically present.
But orders could travel.
Harrison asked:
“Did you know Amelia intended to change her trust?”
Marianne’s face changed.
There.
“Yes.”
“How?”
“Julian told me.”
“When?”
“The day before she died.”
“What did you say?”
“That he should try to reconcile.”
Harrison almost laughed.
“Did you tell Leonard Amelia would not make the meeting?”
“No.”
“Did you tell anyone she had to be stopped?”
“No.”
Then Marianne made a mistake.
“I certainly never told anyone to give her medication.”
Harrison went completely still.
He had not mentioned medication.
Not once.
Marianne realized it.
Too late.
“How do you know medication is involved?”
She looked toward her attorney.
The attorney intervened.
Interview ended.
Harrison did not need more.
Not yet.
Marianne knew details not public.
Someone had told her.
Possibly Julian.
Possibly Leonard.
Possibly Voss.
Or she had been part of the planning.
Elias later pulled her communications.
One call mattered.
6:31 p.m. the night Amelia died.
Marianne called Julian.
Duration:
Fourteen minutes.
At 6:47, Dr. Voss entered Amelia’s room.
At 7:25, Amelia collapsed.
At 7:32, Julian called Marianne back.
Duration:
Nine minutes.
At 7:45, Leonard ordered security to keep Nora downstairs.
Marianne claimed the calls were about family matters.
May you like
Harrison believed that.
The question was which family matter.
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