Unable to endure his wife’s funeral, the man hurried away early from the cemetery…
You have full right to ask about wife’s inheritance.» Early next morning Brian drove to Riverton. En route he called several acquaintances in local law enforcement, checking accident details and Grandpa Nicholas’s death circumstances.
«Brian,» said mobile senior lieutenant Smith, old service buddy. «Case really shady and suspicious. Officially looks ordinary accident, but several very strange nuances.»
«Tell more.» «First, crash site odd. Usually no accidents there—straight wide highway, no sharp turns or steep drops.
Second, car not found right away.» «Any witnesses to incident itself?» «No direct, but interesting detail. Nearby village residents say that night two cars passed highway short interval: first sedan, then dark SUV or jeep behind.»
«Could mean pursuit?» «Quite possible. And another oddity—traces at crash site. Like one car tried to push or force the other off road.»
Brian noted all details carefully. Picture clearer: accident deliberately provoked. In Riverton first he inspected Grandpa Nicholas’s house.
Old brick mansion, early 20th century, historic center. Large well-kept plot with fruit trees and flowerbeds, solid sauna, garage for two cars. Real estate very expensive and attractive.
Neighbors eagerly shared memories of old man’s last months. «Nicholas was wonderful man,» said elderly woman from next house, «only lately relatives hounded him with attention. Especially after doctors said days numbered.»
«And who visited often?» «All nephews and nieces. Before—years without showing, not even birthday or holiday congrats. Suddenly so caring.
Especially Mary with husband almost every weekend.» «And brought those two brothers—Kuznetsovs, I think.» «How did Grandpa react?» «Varied.
Told me once, Olivia only one truly loves me. These just wait my death for inheritance.» «And granddaughter Olivia how often visited Grandpa.»
«Olivia regularly for years, since childhood. At least monthly, often more. Grandpa loved her much, all neighbors knew.
Called her his only true granddaughter.» Brian noted several neighbors’ contacts for possible further testimonies and went to local hospital where Nicholas died. At facility he learned old man indeed died of massive heart attack.
«And relatives knew about will drafting.» Brian asked attending doctor. «Knew alright.
They insisted on urgent notary call. Said Grandpa wants all legal to avoid family disputes after death.» «Their reaction to will content?» «Mildly put, shocked and upset.
Especially Mary—even made scene, yelled Grandpa not himself, will invalid.» Next stop notary office. Olivia Victoria Sokolov, notary with 20-year experience, very neat and pedantic woman.
«Will of Nicholas Peter Kuznetsov?» she echoed. «Of course remember. Very unusual and tense case.»
«What unusual exactly?» «All movable and immovable property, house, land plot, bank deposits, car, antiques—fully to granddaughter Olivia Thompson. Motivated that only she sincerely cared for him all years.» «Other relatives’ reaction?» «Extremely outraged and upset.
Mary tried proving to me Grandpa under strong meds influence, will under duress. But Nicholas fully conscious, answered all my questions clearly. I officially certified…»
«And approximate inheritance value?» «Didn’t do exact appraisal, but roughly house in center at least 400 thousand dollars. 20-acre plot—another 200 thousand. Bank deposits—about 150 thousand.
Plus antique furniture, paintings, rare books. Total around 800 thousand dollars.» Eight hundred thousand dollars.
Serious sum some ready for desperate acts over. «Olivia, any relatives asked about reformat procedure if main heir dies.» Notary raised brows surprised.
«Yes, asked persistently. Mary called next day after Grandpa’s funeral. Detailed questions: what docs needed, how long procedure, can speed up somehow.»
«And what you explained?» «Said need heir’s death cert, docs proving relation degree, written statements from all claimants. Usual takes six weeks to two months.» «And she hurried?» «Very.
Said concrete plans for quick real estate sale, potential buyers already.» Brian thanked notary and went to crash site. Highway section indeed totally safe: straight road, good pavement, excellent visibility.
On shoulder and asphalt he found characteristic traces: long scratches and abrasions clearly showing one car tried to force another off road. By evening Brian back in his city and met Alex right away in small cafe on outskirts. «Picture finally clear, but,» he said.
«Your wife victim of carefully planned and professionally executed crime.» «Tell all in order.» Brian laid out all info gathered in Riverton: will for eight hundred thousand, relatives’ reaction, accident oddities.
«So they started planning murder before Grandpa’s death,» Alex concluded grimly. «As soon as heard will content.» «Looks like it.
But I have good news too. Will exists, absolutely legal and notarized per all rules. If we prove Olivia alive, inheritance fully hers.
And bad news?» «Time critically short. Relatives very actively rushing doc reformat.» «And if they realize plan exposed? Then what?» «Then Olivia even bigger problem for them.
And they may decide final physical elimination.» Next day Alex finally convinced he’s under surveillance. Morning leaving home he noticed familiar dark jeep Land Cruiser parked across street.
Same car by his office when he arrived work. And evening same at building entrance. «They’re definitely suspecting,» he told detective meeting at his office.
«Possibly already know we exposed them.» «Very likely. Your appearance at hospital with girl could give you away and alert them seriously.»
«Alex, need to speed our actions urgently. I have acquaintance doctor-expert who can unofficially examine your wife at hospital and conclude on her identity.» «How he get into ICU?» «I’ll arrange with one hospital doctor.
Present him as consultant from state medical center on complex brain trauma cases. In hospital bustle no one will check invited specialist docs thoroughly.» «And if they fully exposed us?» «Then very little time left for action.
Possibly just hours.» At half past midnight Alex and Brian met at hospital service entrance. Anna Johnson waited in dimly lit hall, nervously shifting feet and constantly looking around.
«Hurry, please!» she whispered pleading. On-duty doctor fell asleep half hour ago in office, but on-duty nurse could return any moment from therapy department rounds. «And security?» «Uncle Pete as usual dozing first floor in chair.
Usually sleeps till morning, but just in case go maximally quiet.» «Alarm?» «Disabled 20 minutes ago.» They carefully went service hall to stairs leading ICU.
Alex carried folded medical stretcher, Brian bag with necessary meds in case Olivia reacts badly to disconnect from machines. ICU met with usual sounds: monotonous heart monitor beeps, quiet oxygen tank hisses, steady ventilation hum. In night duty silence these sounds seemed especially sinister and alarming.
«Room seven far end hall,» Anna whispered. «Go very careful, try no noise.» They quietly passed hall past other rooms where heavy condition patients lay.
Alex tried not looking around; those still figures under white sheets in night dim looked too gloomy and depressing. Room seven lit only by soft bedside lamp. Olivia lay on same hospital bed, connected complex medical equipment.
In night quiet life support machines sounded especially loud. «How to disconnect her properly from all this?» Alex whispered worried. «Very careful and gradual,» Brian replied, studying medical equipment attentively…
