Chapter 10 - Someone Wanted Ethan Down
The anonymous message changed everything.
Claire had used half-tablet because that was amount demanded in threat.
“You should have used whole tablet” suggested sender expected stronger effect.
Who sent it?
Burner device connected to mansion guest Wi-Fi.
Twenty-three people present.
Investigators narrowed by network timing.
Device entered property at same time as Adrian Cole.
But could belong staff.
Adrian denied.
Then police found burner phone hidden beneath cushion in library.
Fingerprints wiped.
Location near where Adrian placed coat.
Suspicion returned to him.
Why would family attorney want Ethan impaired?
Governance vote.
Adrian had advised against Ethan’s reform.
He argued removing Eleanor emergency authority too quickly could freeze acquisitions.
Financial motive indirect.
But Adrian also had access to Rachel’s old legal documents.
Could have known Claire’s guilt.
Claire received threat video showing her adding sedative to Rachel’s glass.
Who recorded it?
Lake-house security system.
Who controlled archives?
Adrian’s law firm.
There.
Ethan confronted him.
Adrian finally admitted obtaining video after Rachel’s death.
He did not send threats.
Then why never reveal video?
Attorney-client problems.
Rachel’s death inquiry had ended.
Revealing could expose Claire and Eleanor.
And Carter Foundation.
Again concealment.
“Did anyone else have copy?”
“Yes.”
“Who?”
Martin Shaw received archive during insurance review.
Martin denied sending threat.
Victoria could access his files.
Eleanor could potentially get through Adrian.
Too many possibilities.
Then digital forensic work traced burner phone purchase to an assistant employed by Martin Shaw.
Assistant said Martin asked her to buy cheap phone for travel.
Martin insisted unrelated.
Receipts showed same device.
Caught.
Martin finally broke.
He had sent anonymous threats to Claire.
Not Eleanor.
Why?
He wanted Ethan sedated enough to miss vote.
Why?
Because Rachel’s signed amendment—hidden by Martin—meant many foundation transactions after her death could be challenged if Ethan’s new reform triggered forensic review.
Martin feared civil liability.
He knew Claire drugged Rachel because he had security video.
So he blackmailed her.
Current tea plot came from Martin.
That explained who forced Claire to repeat act.
But Martin denied having anything to do with Rachel’s medication or death.
He did not mastermind eighteen months earlier.
He simply exploited old crime.
Layered wrongdoing.
Then Ethan asked:
“Who told you Claire drugged Rachel in first place?”
Martin answered:
“Your mother.”
Eleanor closed eyes.
She had shared secret with Martin after Rachel died because he helped bury governance amendment.
Thus chain:
Eleanor asked Claire to sedate Rachel.
Rachel died.
Eleanor told Martin.
Martin hid amendment.
Eighteen months later Martin used secret to force Claire to sedate Ethan.
Different mastermind for second incident.
But who changed Rachel’s medication?
Still unresolved.
And who was Sophie really pointing at?
Martin was seated behind Ethan.
So was Eleanor.
Sophie looked at Martin’s photograph.
“No.”
Then Eleanor.
Sophie swallowed.
“Not exactly.”
Ethan frowned.
“Then who?”
May you like
Sophie pointed at a third photograph.
Victoria Shaw.
