Chapter 6 - “You Said You Were Only Going to Scare Her”Daniel watched the footage without blinking.
Linda entered the repair shop at 8:47 p.m.
Robert said something the camera couldn’t clearly capture.
Linda pointed toward Claire’s vehicle.
They argued.
Then Robert opened the hood.
The angle did not show exactly what he touched.
But Linda remained beside him.
Watching.
Daniel rewound.
Again.
Again.
At one point, Linda walked toward the garage entrance and looked outside, as if making sure nobody was coming.
Daniel’s throat tightened.
“She knew.”
Rebecca said nothing.
Daniel turned to Frank.
“Was there audio?”
“Only partial.”
Frank opened another file.
The microphone near the office had captured muffled voices.
Robert:
“…not enough to cause a crash.”
Linda:
“I don’t care. She needs to be frightened.”
Robert:
“She’s already asking questions.”
Linda:
“Then make her stop.”
Daniel felt his chest constrict.
Claire had been investigating Noah’s trust.
She discovered money missing.
Linda needed her to stop.
The recording continued.
Robert said:
“Daniel will ask questions.”
Linda replied:
“My son believes me.”
Daniel closed his eyes.
Three years ago, that had been true.
Completely.
His mother had moved into his home after Claire died.
Cooked meals.
Took Noah to school.
Sat beside Daniel while he cried.
Told him not to blame himself.
All while knowing what had happened to Claire’s car.
Daniel replayed Linda’s sentence.
My son believes me.
Rebecca touched his arm.
“We need to take this to the police.”
Daniel nodded.
But Frank wasn’t finished.
“There’s another recording.”
Daniel looked at him.
Frank opened a file dated the day after Claire’s death.
Robert and Linda stood outside the shop.
The audio was clearer.
Linda was crying.
Not acting.
Panicking.
“You said you were only going to scare her.”
Robert replied:
“I barely opened the line.”
“She’s dead!”
“Keep your voice down.”
“She wasn’t supposed to die.”
“You wanted her frightened.”
“I wanted her to stop looking at the trust!”
Daniel gripped the table.
Linda continued:
“What are we going to tell Daniel?”
“Nothing.”
“He’ll investigate.”
“No. He’ll grieve.”
Linda began sobbing.
Robert’s voice hardened.
“Listen to me. Claire drove in heavy rain. The report will say brake failure and loss of control. Nobody needs to know anything else.”
Then Linda said something Daniel would never forget.
“And Noah?”
Robert replied:
“He’s five. He doesn’t know anything.”
The recording ended.
Daniel stood completely still.
His mother had not intended to murder Claire.
That distinction did nothing to reduce his hatred.
She had conspired to tamper with Claire’s car to frighten her.
Claire died because of it.
Then Linda let Daniel mourn beside her for three years while she continued stealing from Noah.
Rebecca quietly said:
“We have enough to reopen the death investigation.”
Daniel looked at Frank.
“You’re coming with us.”
Frank nodded.
“I know.”
By that evening, state investigators had the footage.
Frank gave a formal statement.
A warrant was requested for Robert.
Linda, already detained over Noah, was questioned again.
She requested counsel and said nothing.
Daniel returned home after dark.
Noah ran to him.
“You came back.”
Daniel dropped to his knees and hugged him.
“I told you I would.”
Noah noticed his face.
“Are you sad?”
Daniel looked at his son.
Eight years old.
Already carrying more fear than any child should.
“Yes.”
“Because of Grandma?”
“Yes.”
Noah rested his head against Daniel’s shoulder.
“Is she going to jail?”
Daniel hesitated.
“Maybe.”
“Do you hate her?”
Daniel closed his eyes.
Children always asked the question adults avoided.
“I’m very angry with her.”
“That’s not what I asked.”
Daniel almost smiled.
“No.”
He looked toward the staircase.
At the camera.
Then back at Noah.
“I don’t know what I feel yet.”
Noah was quiet for a moment.
Then he whispered:
“I heard Grandma say Mom’s name before.”
Daniel’s body went rigid.
“When?”
“Before yesterday.”
“How long before?”
Noah thought.
“Maybe a month.”
Daniel crouched lower.
“What did she say?”
“She was on the phone downstairs.”
“With Robert?”
“I think so.”
“What did you hear?”
Noah frowned, trying to remember.
“She said they had to find something before you did.”
“What?”
“I don’t know.”
Then Noah added:
“She said Mom hid it where you’d never look.”
Daniel stared.
May you like
Claire had apparently left something behind.
Something Linda and Robert had spent three years trying to find.
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