Beatrice had no answer.

Chapter 2 — Paperwork Claiming a Death

Late that night, after the last guests had gone, Alexander walked into his daughter’s untouched bedroom — her law textbooks, old letters, photos with high-school friends, and a leather notebook where Valerie had written the same phrase over and over: Don’t be late.

At midnight he called Marcus Vance, a veteran attorney who had once represented Elena, Alexander’s first wife and Valerie’s mother, before her death. Marcus came to the estate without wasting time on questions.

He examined the text, the photo, and the silver bracelet, then asked a single question. “Did you identify the body yourself?”

Alexander shook his head. “Beatrice said it was better to keep the casket closed, because of the trauma.”

Marcus’s expression turned grim. “Then we don’t have a confirmed death, Alexander. We have paperwork claiming there was one.”