Chapter 13 - The Anonymous Benefactor
The high-security visitor wing of the state correctional facility smelled of industrial bleach and suppressed violence.
Christopher Winslow sat behind the thick partition of reinforced glass, wearing an orange jumpsuit that made his sallow complexion look sickly.
Yet despite his confinement, the arrogance that defined him had not diminished.
He smiled smugly as Arthur and I took our seats on the other side of the glass.
Raymond had stayed in the car outside; Arthur had insisted that Raymond’s blood pressure could not handle another direct confrontation with the nephew who had tried to kill him.
"Look who came to visit," Christopher sneered into the black plastic phone receiver.
"The maid and the loyal family dog."
"Save your breath, Christopher," Arthur replied calmly through his receiver.
"We know Vanguard Heritage Holdings is financing your legal defense."
"We know Julian Vance's signature authorized the payment."
Christopher laughed, a harsh, grating sound that rattled against the glass.
"Did you really think you won, Nora?" Christopher mocked, staring directly into my eyes.
"You think because you pulled Uncle Raymond out of that bed, you get to live in my family's castle?"
"You are nothing but an illiterate pawn."
"Julian has been watching Bellevue Crest for ten years."
"He let Raymond stew in his guilt, and he used me to push Raymond to the edge."
"If you think Julian cares about me, you are a fool," Arthur interjected.
"He is using you to force Bellevue Crest into a judicial receivership so he can seize the family archives."
Christopher’s smile hardened, a flicker of genuine terror surfacing behind his cold eyes.
"You don't know what is hidden in those walls, Arthur," Christopher whispered, leaning closer to the perforated metal grill.
"Eleanor didn't die of cancer."
"She discovered what Raymond did thirty years ago to secure the Winslow land grant."
"And she recorded everything."
"Every name, every forged deed, every body buried beneath the foundation of the north wing."
My stomach twisted into a cold knot.
"Raymond is an honorable man!" I spoke into the receiver, unable to stay silent.
"He would never harm anyone!"
"Is that what he told you, sweet little Nora?" Christopher taunted.
"Why don't you go down to the old greenhouse at midnight?"
"Under the fourth flagstone behind the orchids."
"There is a locked steel lockbox that Eleanor hid the night before she disappeared into the hospital."
"Go open it, Nora."
"Look at the photographs inside."
"Then tell me if your noble savior is a saint, or the devil himself."
Christopher slammed down the receiver and signaled the guard to escort him back to his cell.
Arthur hung up the phone, his face grim and deeply troubled.
"Do not listen to his poison, Nora," Arthur said as we walked through the heavy security checkpoints.
"Christopher is desperate."
"He wants to plant seeds of doubt between you and Raymond to break the unity that saved Raymond's life."
"What if there is a lockbox, Arthur?" I asked, trembling as we reached the rainy courtyard outside.
"What if Eleanor really did leave something behind?"
Arthur did not answer immediately.
He opened the sedan door for me, his eyes dark with unspoken fears.
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"Some secrets, Nora, were buried for a reason," Arthur said softly.
"And digging them up might destroy everyone we are trying to save."
