Chapter 3

Garrett read the date a second time.

Bennett adjusted his cuff.

"I attended a courthouse ceremony."

"You denied knowing her."

"I disputed what she was claiming."

Walter stayed beside the open footlocker.

Elise stood across from Bennett without moving.

The wedding picture remained in Garrett's hand.

"Is that your signature on their license?"

Bennett's eyes went to the blue folder.

"An old marriage doesn't settle an estate."

Elise spoke quietly.

"We never divorced."

"That needs verification."

For the first time, Garrett nodded.

"Yes, it does."

Bennett straightened.

Then Garrett looked toward the front desk.

"Call the board secretary."

The night manager picked up the phone.

"Have her reach independent counsel."

Bennett's shoulders lowered a fraction.

"Garrett, I handle those matters."

"Not this one."

Garrett laid the photograph beside the tin.

Both rested on the luggage cart's upper shelf.

"Nobody removes anything."

Walter opened the blue folder.

Elise touched a clear sleeve inside.

"Our marriage certificate."

Beneath it lay a copy of Sadie's birth certificate.

September 2021.

Father: Nathan Thorne.

Garrett held the page close enough to read.

His finger stopped beneath the name.

"These are copies," Bennett said.

Elise nodded.

"The originals can be checked."

She didn't look away from Garrett.

"I want them checked."

Sadie tugged her mother's sleeve.

"Can I pick up my angels?"

Elise glanced toward the tree.

"Stay where I can see you."

The night manager brought over a clean paper sack.

Sadie crouched beside it.

One clothespin angel had lost a wing.

She placed that one on top.

Garrett watched her for a moment.

Then he looked at the envelopes.

"What's all this?"

"My husband's letters," Elise said.

Walter lifted the first bundle.

Postmarks ran from late 2020 into 2022.

Each envelope carried Garrett's name.

Each had come back.

Some held notices from the family office.

Others had printed return labels.

Garrett lifted one from December 2020.

"I never saw this."

Bennett glanced at the front desk.

"Your correspondence went through screening."

"This was my son."

"You'd stopped taking his calls."

Garrett's mouth tightened.

Nathan had left the company after an argument.

Garrett had told Bennett to let him cool off.

He had waited for Nathan to call again.

Then waited longer.

"Did he try?"

Bennett rubbed one thumb along his cuff.

"There were messages."

"How many?"

"I can't recall."

Elise pointed toward the bundle.

"He wrote when our number changed."

"He wrote when we got married."

"He wrote when she was born."

The clerk behind the front desk stopped typing.

Walter laid a return notice beside the envelopes.

Bennett Crane's office appeared across the top.

"He went to your house once," Elise said.

"The gate staff called your office."

"They told him you wouldn't see him."

Garrett touched the notice.

"I was in Montana that week."

Bennett looked at the floor.

The desk phone rang.

The night manager listened, then covered the receiver.

"Board secretary's connecting Ms. Morgan."

Garrett took the call at the counter.

An independent attorney came on speaker.

She first asked who was present.

Then she told Bennett not to touch the records.

"I'm not making any findings tonight," she said.

"I need copies and original documents preserved."

Elise gave permission to photograph the family papers.

Walter stayed beside the cart while the manager worked.

Bennett took out his phone.

Ms. Morgan's voice sharpened.

"Don't direct anyone to alter or remove files."

"I'm calling my own attorney."

"That's your right."

Garrett looked toward the blue folder again.

A court-stamped document sat behind the certificates.

Elise pulled it free.

"This came with the funeral payment."

It was a copy of the estate filing.

November 2022.

Bennett had signed a sworn statement.

No surviving spouse or issue.

Garrett read the words without blinking.

"He stood beside us," Elise said.

"He held Sadie when she was three weeks old."

Bennett's phone remained dark in his hand.

Garrett turned the page.

A familiar signature filled the approval line.

Elise watched him recognize it.

"You told me this meant there was nobody left."

Bennett offered no answer.

Garrett lowered the paper.

The signature that had approved Nathan's empty family record was his own.