Chapter 9: The Day Vance Holloway Talked
Gerald called at ten-forty the following morning.
Hannah was at her sewing table, not sewing.
She had a dress pinned and waiting but her hands had not moved toward it.
She was drinking coffee and watching the street and trying not to count the hours.
"Vance cooperated," Gerald said.
She set the coffee down.
"When?"
"Last night.
The DA brought him in at seven.
He had an attorney present.
By nine o'clock he had agreed to full cooperation in exchange for reduced charges." A pause.
"He gave them everything."
"What does everything mean?"
"It means he provided the original communication records between himself and Brandon.
It means he confirmed that he knowingly submitted fraudulent documents.
It means he named Brenda explicitly as the person who approached him about the nursing home arrangement and the sedative." Gerald's voice was steady and unhurried.
"The word he used for what was in the tea was a mild sedative compound.
Obtainable without a prescription but used in a dosage well above the recommended amount for someone Florence's age."
Hannah gripped the phone.
"Is that—" She stopped.
"Is that a separate charge?"
"The DA is treating it as knowing endangerment of a vulnerable adult.
Yes.
That is a separate and serious charge." He paused.
"Brenda purchased the compound.
The receipt was on her phone.
She photographed it — apparently to send to Brandon as confirmation."
"She sent Brandon a photo of the receipt."
"She did.
Brandon's phone records, which the DA subpoenaed this morning, confirm he received it and did not respond." Gerald let that land.
"Not responding to evidence of a crjme you are aware of has its own legal implications."
Hannah stood up from the sewing table.
She walked to the window.
The street was ordinary and quiet and completely indifferent to what was happening inside the phone in her hand.
"What happens to Brenda?" she asked.
"She will be brought in today or tomorrow.
The DA wanted Vance's cooperation confirmed before moving on her, because Brenda is more likely to fight." Gerald paused.
"She has already retained an attorney.
Which means she knew this was coming."
"She knew because Brandon told her."
"Almost certainly.
Which is why the DA moved quickly." A brief pause.
"Hannah.
I want to prepare you for something."
"Tell me."
"Brenda's attorney will argue that Florence consented to the tea.
They will argue that the property transfer was a family arrangement that Hannah and Florence misunderstood.
They will try to make this look like a family disagreement that became a legal overreaction." His voice was calm.
"That argument will not succeed.
But you will hear it.
I want you to be ready to hear it without it shaking you."
"It won't shake me."
"Good." A pause.
"Brandon called my office this morning at eight-fifteen.
He spoke with me for forty minutes.
He confirmed everything he told you on the phone.
He also provided the name of the development company and confirmed he was aware the house would be sold and demolished."
Hannah closed her eyes.
"He didn't know about the nursing home plan in full," Gerald continued.
"He knew Florence would be relocated.
He did not know Brenda intended to claim dementia.
That distinction may matter in terms of his charges." A pause.
"He also told me about the debts.
They are significant.
But they are not a legal defense."
"I know."
"He asked me to tell you he is sorry."
"I know that too."
"Is there anything you want me to tell him in return?"
Hannah looked out at the street.
A neighbor was walking a dog.
A child was riding a bicycle two houses down.
The ordinary afternoon continuing without interruption.
"Tell him to be honest with Lily when she's old enough to ask," Hannah said.
"That's all."
Gerald said he would.
Then he told her to expect a call from the DA's office directly, likely before end of day, to formally notify her of the charges being filed.
She thanked him and ended the call.
She stood at the window for a moment.
Then she went to the kitchen, where Florence was sitting with her tea and a crossword puzzle, and she sat down across from her and said: "Vance talked."
Florence set her pen down.
Hannah told her everything Gerald had said.
Florence listened without moving.
When Hannah got to the part about the receipt — Brenda photographing it and sending it to Brandon — Florence looked down at her crossword for a moment.
"She documented it herself," Florence said.
"Yes."
"She was proud of it."
Hannah hadn't thought of it that way.
But it was true.
Brenda had sent that photo the way a person sends a photo of something they've accomplished.
"Yes," Hannah said.
"I think she was."
Florence picked up her pen.
She filled in one word on the crossword.
Then she looked up.
"Will they arrest her today?"
"Gerald thinks today or tomorrow."
Florence nodded once.
She looked back at the crossword.
Her hand was completely steady.
"I'm going to finish this puzzle," she said.
"And then I'm going to start the bread I've been putting off all week." She paused.
"Will you be here?"
"I'll be here," Hannah said.
She poured herself a second cup of coffee and sat down at the table, and the two of them stayed there in the quiet kitchen while outside, somewhere across Maplewood, the day continued its work.
At two-seventeen in the afternoon, Hannah's phone showed a news alert from the local paper.
*Maplewood woman arrested on charges of elder @buse, fr@ud, and knowing endangerment.
A second arrest is expected.*
She turned the phone face-down on the table.
May you like
Florence did not ask what it said.
She already knew.
