Sign the Papers Mr. Langford novel Chapter 553

When Mrs. Higgins arrived at Stellaris, she was clutching a worn canvas tote.

The bag had been washed so many times the color had faded. The edges were frayed, and a small patch was sewn near the zipper.

The receptionist led her to the conference room. Mrs. Higgins stood in the doorway, taking in the walls covered in whiteboards and sticky notes, and the sprawling Special Review Package laid out on the table. She hesitated.

"Ms. Whitaker, are you all very busy?"

Wren walked over to greet her.

"Not at all."

Mrs. Higgins clutched her bag tighter, her eyes red.

"I was terrified I'd remember something wrong, so I stayed up all night writing down everything I could recall."

She pulled an old, battered notebook from her bag.

The dark red cover was peeling at the corners. Inside were several yellowed pages and a cheap, worn-out ballpoint pen.

Wren took it.

The first page was a frantic scramble of words.

Vivian Vance.

Manila envelope.

The Cobalt Folder.

Vanguard.

Quentin takes the money.

Arrows connected the words, with some parts scribbled out and rewritten. It was obvious Mrs. Higgins's hands had been shaking when she wrote it.

Wren didn't rush to turn the page.

She poured Mrs. Higgins a glass of warm water.

"Take your time."

Mrs. Higgins sat down, wrapping her stiff fingers around the glass.

"In the time leading up to your mother's accident, the atmosphere at the house was awful. Mr. Whitaker was constantly in his study making long phone calls. Sometimes, your mother would come home looking deathly pale, but she wouldn't let us ask questions."

Wren sat across from her.

Phoebe hadn't come inside; she merely pulled the conference room door shut from the outside.

Mrs. Higgins took a sip of water, her voice raspy.

"One day, I went to clear the teacups from the study and heard Mr. Whitaker say something."

She furrowed her brow, as if desperately trying to dig the exact phrase out of her memory.

"He said, 'Transfer a sum through Vanguard first. Don't let Vivian know.'"

Wren's fingers went still.

"Are you absolutely sure he said Vanguard?"