Hand over the cottage keys, Eleanor, or I’ll have you declared mentally incompetent by

I poured Vanessa another cup of Earl Grey. My hand didn’t shake. “You’re right,” I said softly. “I have been confused lately. That’s why I called someone this morning.” Vanessa’s smile widened, victorious. Daniel finally looked at me, something flickering behind his eyes. The doorbell rang. I rose slowly, smoothing my black dress, and answered it. In walked Margaret Chen — Howard’s attorney of thirty-one years — followed by a soft-spoken woman named Dr. Patel, and a tall man in a charcoal suit Vanessa didn’t recognize. “Eleanor, so good to see you,” Margaret said warmly, setting her briefcase on the table directly on top of Vanessa’s folder. “Shall we begin?” Vanessa’s teacup froze halfway to her lips. Margaret opened a leather binder. “Howard’s actual will, filed last spring, leaves the cottage, the brokerage accounts, and the Millbrook property in an irrevocable trust — with Eleanor as sole trustee for life.” She turned a page. “Daniel receives a monthly stipend, contingent on Eleanor’s written approval each quarter.” Daniel sat down hard. “Dr. Patel completed Eleanor’s cognitive evaluation last Tuesday,” Margaret continued. “Perfect score. Documented, notarized, sealed.” Then the man in charcoal stepped forward. “Mrs. Halloway, I’m Detective Reyes. We have the recording from this evening — Mrs. Halloway consented to record under Pennsylvania one-party law. Attempting to coerce an elderly relative into signing away assets through fraudulent psychiatric claims is a felony.” Vanessa’s pearl earrings caught the candlelight as she turned the color of skim milk. “Eleanor, please,” Daniel whispered. I picked up the manila folder, walked to the fireplace Howard built with his own hands, and dropped it into the flames. “You called me a parasite at the funeral, Vanessa. You thought grief had hollowed me out.” I watched the papers curl black. “Grief sharpened me. Now get out of my husband’s house — before I press every charge Detective Reyes is offering.”