Chapter 4 - The Pendant
Margaret Hale had worn silver pendant for thirty years.
David remembered it.
So did Lily.
At funeral, Claire saw pendant at dead woman’s neck.
That had convinced her body was Margaret despite facial swelling and partial covering.
Now investigators asked:
Who placed it there?
Hospital property log showed pendant entered with Margaret.
Then moved to morgue bag assigned Ellen Mercer.
Initials:
C.R.
Claire Reynolds.
Claire stared.
“That’s not me.”
Her maiden name had been Claire Reynolds.
Same initials.
Same surname.
Hospital employee?
No current C.R. on shift.
Security log showed access card registered to retired nurse:
Carol Reynolds.
Claire’s mother.
David turned toward Claire.
“Your mother worked there?”
“She retired six years ago.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I didn't know her old access still worked.”
Carol Reynolds was alive.
Living in Vermont.
She answered police call.
Denied being at hospital.
Travel records supported her.
Someone used her old badge.
Who had it?
Carol believed she returned it.
Hospital inventory listed badge destroyed.
But no destruction witness.
Again, dead credential reused.
Claire became more entangled without proof she acted.
Then Margaret called again.
This time directly to David’s temporary secure phone.
“Mom, where are you?”
“I can't tell you.”
“Why does Claire know?”
“She helped me once.”
“Once?”
Margaret hesitated.
“She moved me from Boston to Portland.”
That matched anonymous message.
Claire had moved Margaret.
David looked at bride.
“When?”
“Four months ago.”
Margaret said she had been living under protected medical care after resurfacing.
Someone located her.
Claire arranged transfer to another safe location.
Why Claire?
Margaret did not trust family attorney.
Did not trust David’s brother Thomas.
Did not trust foundation board.
She trusted Claire because Claire was outside Hale family.
David struggled with irony.
Now Claire looked most suspicious because Margaret trusted her.
Then Margaret said:
“David, the funeral mistake wasn't random.”
“Who did it?”
“I don't know.”
“What do you know?”
“The pendant.”
“Yes.”
“I gave it to someone before I fell.”
“Who?”
Silence.
“Mom?”
Margaret whispered:
“Lily’s mother.”
David stopped.
Anna had been dead four years before Margaret’s fall.
Confirmed.
No fake death.
No resurrection.
“How could Anna have your pendant?”
“She had it before she died.”
Then why was it on Ellen Mercer eleven months ago?
Someone had taken it from Anna’s belongings.
Only three people had access.
David.
May you like
Margaret.
And Claire.
