Chapter 7
Evelyn’s current location came from a lawyer in Vermont.
Not Delphine.
Evelyn.
Rebecca received a call after formal notices connected to reopening the presumed-death case became public in legal channels.
The attorney represented a woman named Evelyn Hart.
Callahan’s wife had used her maiden name.
The lawyer wanted proof Callahan was not trying to force contact.
That enraged him.
Then embarrassed him.
“What has Delphine been telling her?”
Rebecca held up one hand.
“Before we assume, listen.”
Evelyn had believed for years that Callahan knew she survived.
Delphine told her he wanted communication restricted because Maple had stabilized after trauma.
Later Delphine claimed Callahan blamed Evelyn for disappearing after the accident.
Then she said Callahan had become dangerous when anyone suggested bringing Evelyn home.
Callahan laughed bitterly.
“I’m dangerous every day. That doesn’t make the rest true.”
Rebecca continued.
Evelyn had tried to contact him directly three times.
One letter went through Delphine.
Hidden.
One was mailed to the estate and signed for by a family-office employee.
Nathan traced it.
Delphine’s assistant collected it.
The third was sent through a lawyer two years earlier.
That one disappeared inside the Royce legal-administration system.
Callahan stared at Rebecca.
“How?”
“We’re still finding out.”
Evelyn eventually stopped trusting intermediaries.
She did not stop trying to reach Maple.
She sent birthday gifts through Delphine because Delphine kept insisting direct contact would cause emotional damage.
Then six months ago, Evelyn told Delphine she planned to approach Callahan herself.
The meetings in the photographs became more frequent after that.
One photograph from the shed showed Delphine gripping Evelyn’s wrist across a café table.
Not proof of a threat.
Enough to look tense.
The latest message recovered from Evelyn’s lawyer contained one line:
Delphine says if I come back before the Royce sale, Maple may lose everything her grandfather left her.
Rebecca looked at Callahan.
“There’s the inheritance threat.”
Callahan’s eyes narrowed.
Delphine had apparently told both sides opposite versions of the same fear.
To Maple:
Your mother would cost you your inheritance.
To Evelyn:
Returning will cost Maple her inheritance.
And to Callahan:
May you like
Nothing.
The money had become a wall built from lies.
