Chapter 10 - The Car Had Been Touched Before the CrashThe original police report said mechanical failure had not caused Evelyn’s accident.
But it had been a basic inspection.
Three years ago.
The SUV was destroyed after the insurance investigation.
There was no vehicle left to examine.
Only photographs.
Records.
And newly recovered security footage showing Wallace and Silas under the hood.
Mara reopened the death investigation.
Silas’s attorney immediately stopped cooperating.
Tabitha’s attorney requested immunity discussions.
Thaddeus hated every part of it.
At home, he focused on Grayson.
A child therapist began visiting.
Not because Grayson was “broken.”
Because he had been frightened in his own home for months and needed an adult who wasn’t family to help him make sense of it.
The first session lasted forty minutes.
Afterward Grayson asked:
“Do I have to talk about Aunt Tabitha every time?”
“No.”
“Good.”
“Why?”
“I want to talk about dinosaurs next time.”
Thaddeus smiled.
“Reasonable.”
Grayson looked at him.
“Are you going away for work?”
The question hit.
“I have a trip Thursday.”
The boy’s face changed.
Thaddeus saw it.
He immediately said:
“I’m canceling.”
“No.”
“What?”
“You said work matters.”
“It does.”
Grayson looked confused.
“Then go.”
Thaddeus sat beside him.
“Work matters. You matter more.”
The boy stared.
It was clear he had not felt that certainty lately.
“Bernice will be here?”
“Yes.”
“And you come back?”
“Yes.”
Thaddeus paused.
“But I’m still canceling Thursday.”
Grayson smiled faintly.
“Okay.”
That evening, Mara called.
They had interviewed Margaret Avery by video.
She confirmed everything Evelyn wrote.
Jonathan had owned half of Bellweather Components.
After he died unexpectedly from a heart condition, Wallace offered to buy her shares.
She agreed to a payment plan.
Then documents appeared showing she had transferred full ownership immediately.
She denied signing them.
“Why didn’t she sue?” Thaddeus asked.
“She had no money. A sick child. Wallace’s lawyers threatened years of litigation.”
“Evelyn.”
“Her daughter was three.”
Thaddeus felt shame for something done before he was born.
“Did my father ever pay her later?”
“Some money. Not nearly the value.”
“And Evelyn found her.”
“Yes.”
“Did Margaret speak with her the day she died?”
“No.”
“What?”
Mara looked grim.
“Evelyn never arrived.”
Thaddeus felt cold.
“Margaret waited at a hotel for two hours.”
“So Evelyn was driving there.”
“Yes.”
“Did anyone else know?”
“Margaret says Evelyn told her she was bringing original records.”
“Original?”
“Documents proving Jonathan’s ownership.”
“Where did Evelyn get them?”
“Unclear.”
Thaddeus remembered the burned papers.
Maybe Tabitha and Silas destroyed them afterward.
Mara continued.
“Margaret also received a call that evening.”
“From who?”
“Wallace.”
Thaddeus sat.
“What did he say?”
“That Evelyn had been in an accident.”
“How did he know Margaret was waiting?”
“He shouldn’t have.”
Unless Evelyn told him.
Or he knew where she was going.
“What else?”
“Margaret says Wallace offered her money the next week.”
Thaddeus stared.
“How much?”
“Five million.”
“For what?”
“To sign a confidentiality agreement and settle all Bellweather claims.”
“Did she?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“She believed Evelyn died because of the dispute.”
Thaddeus closed his eyes.
“Did she tell police?”
“She tried.”
“And?”
“The investigating officer noted it as a family-business dispute without evidence connecting it to the crash.”
“Who spoke to police for our family?”
Mara’s expression changed.
“Silas Crowe.”
Of course.
Thaddeus stood and walked toward the window.
“My father may have killed my wife.”
Mara responded carefully.
“We do not know that.”
“He touched her car.”
“Yes.”
“Hours before she died.”
“Yes.”
“He knew where she was going.”
“Yes.”
“He offered Margaret money after.”
“Yes.”
“What would you think?”
“I would think we need more evidence.”
Thaddeus hated her professionalism.
He also needed it.
“What can the footage show?”
“Forensic vehicle experts are reviewing.”
“And Silas?”
“Not talking.”
“Tabitha?”
“Her lawyer says she will answer limited questions if prosecutors consider her cooperation.”
Thaddeus laughed bitterly.
“My sister wants a deal.”
“Yes.”
“After abusing my son.”
“Separate case.”
“It doesn’t feel separate.”
“I know.”
Mara hesitated.
“There’s one more thing.”
“What?”
“We reviewed the transfers from Grayson’s trust.”
“Okay.”
“Harbor Ridge Family Consulting is owned through another LLC.”
“Whose?”
“Not Tabitha’s.”
“Silas?”
“No.”
Thaddeus waited.
“The beneficial owner is Wallace Mercer.”
Thaddeus stared.
“My father is dead.”
“Which means either the ownership records are old…”
“Or someone has been operating a dead man’s company.”
“Yes.”
“Who has authority?”
Mara looked at him.
“According to state filings updated six months ago…”
She paused.
“Tabitha.”
Thaddeus felt cold.
His sister had not merely stolen from Grayson.
May you like
She had resurrected their father’s shell company.
And she had done it after moving into Thaddeus’s house.
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