Chapter 5 - Grandma's Final Plan
Claire and Tiffany opened the envelope side by side.
Inside was not money.
It was a plan.
Eleanor wanted the disputed property preserved. Part would remain protected land. Another portion would eventually support a community center for military families, veterans, widows, and local families facing temporary hardship.
Claire read the final paragraph twice.
Grandma had chosen Claire as temporary steward because she trusted her discipline.
But eventually, Eleanor wanted both sisters involved.
Claire looked at Tiffany.
“Why us?”
Tiffany gave a broken laugh.
“Apparently Grandma was an optimist.”
For the first time in years, Claire laughed with her sister.
Then they found a second document.
A handwritten accounting ledger.
Several payments were circled.
One recipient appeared repeatedly.
G. SHAW.
Gregory Shaw.
The businessman whose card Claire photographed in Dad's office.
Agent Reeves recognized the name.
Shaw had appeared around several disputed estates.
Now investigators had something linking him directly to Eleanor's records.
But when they went looking for him, Gregory Shaw had vanished.
His office was empty.
His phone disconnected.
His accounts showed a sudden withdrawal.
Someone had warned him.
That meant the scheme wasn't over.
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And someone inside Claire's family might still be protecting him.
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