Part 3: The Librarian Who Catalogued Lies

Mercer brought Bertram in for formal questioning the following day, the mounting evidence finally sufficient to justify serious, direct confrontation.

"I want my lawyer present," Bertram said immediately, composure noticeably strained despite his attempt at calm defiance.

His lawyer arrived within the hour, though the physical evidence toxicology results, financial inconsistencies, the fingerprint match proved considerably harder to dismiss than Bertram's legal counsel initially hoped.

"My client maintains complete innocence," the lawyer insisted, though visible uncertainty colored his careful statement.

"Your client's fingerprint was found on a will that would have completely excluded him from his aunt's estate," Mercer said flatly. "A will that mysteriously never reached proper legal execution before Mrs. Ashgrove's suspicious *****."

Bertram's composure finally cracked under sustained pressure. "I didn't want to hurt her," he said, voice breaking. "I just... I needed time. She was planning to change everything, cutting me out entirely in favor of some woman I'd never even heard of."

"Who is Rosalind Fenn?" Odalys asked directly, unable to contain her own mounting curiosity.

Bertram's expression grew genuinely conflicted. "My aunt's illegitimate daughter, actually. Born decades ago, given up for adoption under circumstances the family always kept carefully hidden. My aunt reconnected with her only recently, after decades of guilt-driven searching. She decided, rather suddenly, to leave everything to Rosalind instead of continuing the family's traditional inheritance line."

"So you poisoned her," Mercer said, "specifically to prevent that new will from being properly executed."

"I only meant to slow things down initially," Bertram insisted, though his weakening resolve suggested otherwise. "I told myself I simply needed more time to properly contest the will legally. But she kept getting sicker, and I kept administering more, telling myself each time it was simply... necessary."

The confession, once properly documented, provided more than sufficient evidence for immediate arrest, Bertram's carefully constructed life of inherited privilege collapsing entirely under the weight of his own guilt.

"What happens to Rosalind now?" Odalys asked afterward, genuine concern evident in her voice. "If the second will is authentic, doesn't she deserve proper inheritance, regardless of Bertram's interference?"

Mercer considered the question seriously. "Legally, it's complicated, given the considerable time that's passed. Though given the circumstances genuine authenticity of the will, clear evidence of deliberate concealment and murder specifically to prevent its execution I believe the courts will likely rule in her favor eventually."

They located Rosalind Fenn several days later, living quietly in a neighboring county, entirely unaware of both her biological mother's ***** and the complicated inheritance battle unfolding without her knowledge.

"I never expected any of this," Rosalind admitted, overwhelmed by the sudden revelation of her mother's attempted reconciliation, subsequent murder, and unexpected inheritance. "I'd made peace long ago with never properly knowing my birth family."

"I'm sorry it happened this way," Odalys said gently. "Though I'm glad, at least, that the truth is finally properly surfacing, even if considerably delayed."

to be continued... 📜💛