Chapter 2 - THE NOTARY WASN’T COMING FOR A WILL
The notary arrived four minutes later.
So did the police.
That coincidence was not a coincidence.
Vivienne stared toward the front hall when the first siren sounded.
Dominic turned pale.
One guest finally moved toward Elena.
Dr. Malcolm Reed, a retired cardiologist and old friend of Elena’s grandfather, dropped to his knees beside her.
“Don’t move.”
Elena’s breathing was shallow.
“Folder,” she whispered.
“I have it.”
“No. Keep it where they can see it.”
He looked at her.
Then understood.
Vivienne snapped:
“What is going on?”
The answer came from the doorway.
Attorney Mara Chen entered beside a uniformed officer and a woman carrying a metal notary case.
Mara looked first at Elena.
Then at Vivienne.
Then at the wine.
Her face hardened.
“Elena?”
Dr. Reed answered.
“She needs an ambulance.”
Already coming.
Mara nodded once.
Then she held up a sealed envelope.
“For the record, the notary was not scheduled to notarize any transfer presented by Mrs. Marlowe or Dominic Marlowe.”
Vivienne froze.
Dominic said:
“What?”
The notary stepped forward.
“My appointment is with Elena Marlowe.”
Silence.
Vivienne looked down at Elena.
The smile on Elena’s face made sense now.
Not all of it.
Enough.
Mara continued.
“Elena asked that the notary come tonight because she believed she might be pressured to sign a family settlement document.”
Dominic’s eyes shifted toward the credenza.
Too fast.
Mara saw it.
“So there is a document.”
Vivienne snapped:
“This is a family matter.”
The officer said:
“Not anymore.”
The ambulance crew entered.
As they lifted Elena onto a stretcher, she raised one hand weakly.
Mara leaned close.
Elena whispered:
“Wine.”
“I know.”
“Dominic.”
“I know.”
“Folder.”
Mara placed one hand over it.
“Safe.”
Only then did Elena let them carry her out.
The black folder stayed behind.
On purpose.
Because inside it was not a will.
It was a timeline.
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And at the top of the first page were three words:
IF THEY RUSH.
