Chapter 7 - Drop the Hose
Daniel crossed the lawn without remembering how his legs moved.
Vivian began talking before he reached her.
“She slipped,” she said quickly. “She was upset. She came after me. I was just—”
“With a hose?” Daniel asked.
Vivian swallowed.
Grace helped Eleanor sit upright. Eleanor’s face was wet with water and tears, her hands shaking violently in her lap.
Daniel removed his suit jacket and wrapped it around his mother’s shoulders.
“Mom,” he said softly. “Look at me.”
Eleanor tried.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered.
Daniel felt something inside him split open.
“For what?”
“For not telling you sooner.”
He turned slowly toward Vivian.
The hose still hung from her hand.
“Drop it,” he said.
Vivian looked around as if searching for witnesses she could still control.
There were none close enough.
Only Grace.
Only Eleanor.
Only Daniel.
And the fountain, whispering in the background like it had seen everything.
Vivian let the hose fall.
Water spilled uselessly into the grass.
Daniel crouched and picked up the silver locket. It had popped open during the struggle. Inside, the tiny storage chip was visible.
He stared at it.
Vivian’s voice sharpened.
“That’s private family property.”
Daniel stood.
“My father’s?”
Vivian said nothing.
Grace spoke from beside Eleanor.
“Mrs. Hartwell said your father hid records there.”
Vivian snapped, “She is a maid.”
Daniel did not look away from his wife.
“And she protected my mother while you sprayed her with a hose.”
Vivian’s face flushed.
“You have no idea what she’s been doing. She lies. She manipulates. She’s trying to ruin me.”
Daniel gave a humorless laugh.
“My mother is seventy-six years old and soaking wet on the lawn.”
Vivian stepped closer, lowering her voice.
“Daniel, please. Think about how this looks.”
That sentence ended them.
Not the hose.
Not the locket.
Not even the lie.
That sentence.
Because Vivian was not asking him to think about what she had done.
She was asking him to think about appearances.
Daniel turned to Grace.
“Call Dr. Reeves. Have him come here now. Then call my attorney.”
Vivian’s eyes widened. “Your attorney?”
Daniel looked back at her.
“Yes.”
“For what?”
He held up the locket.
“For whatever my father was trying to tell me before he died.”
Vivian went pale.
“And Vivian?”
May you like
She barely breathed.
“Pack a bag,” Daniel said. “You’re leaving this house today.”
