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THE WOMAN WHO INHERITED MY DEATH
Episode 10: The Man on the Telephone
The dead had started making demands. But Nadia was beginning to suspect that the most dangerous person in the Ashford family was the one who had never been buried.
Adrian called the number back.
It rang once before a recorded voice announced that the number was unavailable.
He tried again.
The same result.
“Give me the phone,” Nadia said.
He looked at her.
“Why?”
“Because if your father has been dead for eleven years, I want to know who is pretending to be him.”
Adrian handed it over.
Nadia examined the call details. The number was unfamiliar, but the call had lasted seventeen seconds. She took a photograph of the screen, then opened the attachment that had accompanied the earlier message.
The document appeared to be a legal declaration.
RICHARD ASHFORD — DECLARATION OF WITHDRAWAL
The text stated that Richard was withdrawing any claim to the Ashford estate and releasing all rights connected to his descendants.
The date was three months ago.
