Chapter 4 - Robert's Last NightRichard didn't believe Victoria.
But disbelief no longer felt sufficient.
He requested his father's medical records.
Robert Coleman had died at home after cardiac arrest.
Eleanor had been present.
Victoria had also been in the mansion.
Richard had been in New York.
The official timeline showed Robert collapsed at 10:18 p.m.
Emergency services were called at 10:31.
Thirteen minutes.
Richard stared at the number.
Why the delay?
He visited Eleanor.
“Mom.”
She knew immediately.
Victoria had planted the question.
Richard showed her the timeline.
“Why did you wait thirteen minutes?”
Eleanor began shaking.
Emily, who had returned only to assist Eleanor temporarily at the rehabilitation center, stepped closer.
Richard remained calm.
“I am not accusing you.”
Eleanor looked at him.
“I just need the truth.”
She whispered:
“Phone…”
“What?”
“Gone.”
“Your phone was gone?”
She nodded.
“Victoria?”
Another nod.
Richard felt anger.
“Victoria took your phone?”
“Yes.”
“Then how was 911 called?”
“Robert.”
Richard frowned.
His father had called?
Eleanor shook her head.
“Robert… phone.”
She meant Robert's phone.
She had eventually found it.
Richard understood.
“You couldn't reach Dad's phone?”
Eleanor cried.
“Floor.”
Robert had collapsed beside it.
Eleanor, already severely impaired, couldn't reach it.
Victoria had removed Eleanor's phone.
Then left.
Richard felt sick.
Victoria had accused Eleanor of watching Robert die.
But perhaps Victoria had created the delay.
Emily asked gently:
“Why did Victoria take your phone?”
Eleanor looked terrified.
“Recording.”
Richard leaned closer.
“What recording?”
Eleanor whispered:
“Robert… Victoria.”
An argument.
His father had recorded Victoria.
Richard returned to the mansion.
Robert's old study had been untouched since his death.
He searched cloud backups.
Nothing.
Then his father's old laptop.
One deleted audio file had been recovered automatically by backup software.
Richard played it.
Robert's voice:
“I know what you've been doing.”
Victoria:
“You don't know anything.”
Robert:
“I know Eleanor is afraid of you.”
Richard closed his eyes.
This had been happening before his father's death.
Robert continued:
“I told Richard you weren't who you pretend to be.”
Victoria laughed.
“No, you didn't.”
“I will.”
“You think he'll believe you?”
Richard felt cold.
The exact phrase from Eleanor's recording.
Victoria had used the same manipulation before.
Robert said:
“Get out of my house.”
Then Victoria:
“Be careful, Robert.”
A pause.
“You're not as healthy as you think.”
The recording ended.
Richard stared at the screen.
Behind him:
“You finally found it.”
He turned.
Victoria stood in the study doorway.
“How did you get in?”
“I live here.”
Richard stood.
“You took my mother's phone the night Dad died.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because she was recording us.”
“You left her alone with him.”
“Yes.”
“Knowing she couldn't reach a phone.”
Victoria's face tightened.
“I didn't know he would collapse.”
“But when you came back?”
She didn't answer.
Richard stared.
“You came back before the ambulance.”
Silence.
“You saw him.”
Victoria looked away.
“You saw my father dying.”
She whispered:
“Yes.”
Richard's face changed.
“And you walked away.”
Victoria looked back at him.
“No.”
“Then what did you do?”
Her answer came quietly.
“I gave him his medication.”
Richard froze.
“What medication?”
May you like
Victoria stared.
“The medication Eleanor told me to give him.”
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