The Signature
Chapter 03 - The Signature
The wedding guests were moved inside while Richard took Ruth, Vanessa, Emily, and Daniel into the library.
Ruth refused a towel until someone brought one for the leather purse.
“That bag belonged to Margaret Whitmore,” she said.
Richard stared at it.
His late mother’s initials were stamped near the brass clasp.
Ruth laid the papers on the desk.
The first document was an old bank transfer. The second was a notarized statement signed by Margaret Whitmore six weeks before her death.
Emily read aloud.
“‘Ruth Bennett did not steal from this family. She accepted blame at my request because revealing the truth would have destroyed my son’s marriage and endangered my grandchildren.’”
Daniel looked at Richard.
“What truth?”
Richard sat down.
Vanessa suddenly headed toward the door.
Ruth blocked her with one sentence.
“Your mother took the money.”
Vanessa turned.
Ruth explained that Vanessa’s mother, Patricia Cole, had been the Whitmore Foundation’s bookkeeper. She had diverted money to cover debts created by Vanessa’s father.
Margaret Whitmore discovered it.
But Patricia threatened to expose an affair involving Richard’s then-wife and to drag the family through a public scandal.
So Margaret made a terrible choice.
She asked Ruth to take the blame.
“And you agreed?” Emily whispered.
Ruth looked at Richard.
“I agreed because I was promised the truth would be told after Margaret died.”
Richard closed his eyes.
“But it never was.”
Ruth nodded.
“No. Because someone destroyed the original statement.”
May you like
She tapped the copy in front of them.
“Someone who is standing in this room.”
