Chapter 16 - Caleb Was Alive, So Whose Body Was It?Daniel reached Bennett Quarry before noon.
The development occupied only half of the original land. The northern section remained wooded because of groundwater problems.
Police had sealed off an excavation near an abandoned maintenance road.
Detective Brooks met him outside the perimeter.
“Before you ask, we don’t think it’s Caleb.”
“You said his ring—”
“Was on the body.”
“Then who?”
“Forensics needs time.”
Daniel looked toward the excavation.
“Can I see?”
“No.”
“Brooks.”
“No.”
She softened.
“You don’t need another image in your head.”
Daniel stopped arguing.
“What else?”
“The remains were wrapped in plastic. Less than twelve months. Male.”
“Why would Caleb put his ring on a body?”
“To make us think he was dead.”
“Then he prepared this.”
“Possibly.”
Daniel felt cold.
“He expected the quarry to be searched.”
“Yes.”
Which meant Caleb knew Vanessa’s plan would collapse.
Perhaps long before the haircut.
Perhaps before the forged trust.
Maybe Caleb had always planned to sacrifice Vanessa.
Daniel called Claire.
“Did Caleb ever talk about leaving?”
“No.”
“Did he have enemies besides everyone in our family?”
“He was a corporate attorney. That’s a long list.”
“Think.”
Claire went quiet.
“There was a man from Northline.”
“Name?”
“Marcus Hale.”
“What did he do?”
“Finance. Private deals. Vanessa trusted him.”
Daniel frowned.
“Was he involved?”
“I assumed he was.”
Police ran the name.
Marcus Hale, forty-eight.
Missing for nine months.
Last known meeting?
Caleb Ross.
The identification came the next morning.
The body was Marcus Hale.
Cause of death: blunt-force trauma.
Caleb’s ring had been planted.
Daniel met Vanessa in the detention center.
She looked different without makeup, designer clothes or control.
He sat behind the glass.
“Did Caleb kill Marcus?”
Vanessa stared.
“How do you know about Marcus?”
“He’s buried at Bennett Quarry.”
Her face went white.
“No.”
“You knew him.”
“He handled Northline’s finances.”
“When did you last see him?”
“Last winter.”
“Did he know about the insurance?”
“Yes.”
“Did he know about the drugs?”
Vanessa looked away.
“Vanessa.”
“Yes.”
“Why is he dead?”
“I don’t know.”
“Caleb’s ring was on the body.”
She looked horrified.
Daniel believed that part.
Then Vanessa whispered:
“Marcus wanted out.”
“Out of what?”
“The plan.”
“What plan?”
She pressed both hands against the glass.
“It was never supposed to become murder.”
Daniel stared.
“You were planning my death.”
“Not at first.”
He almost stood.
“Listen to me.”
“No.”
“Daniel, please.”
He stayed.
Vanessa continued.
“The original plan was financial.”
Gain access to Whitmore.
Restore Bennett ownership.
Force a settlement.
Expose Margaret.
“That would already be criminal.”
“Yes.”
“When did killing me become part of it?”
“After Marcus discovered Caleb was moving money into private accounts.”
Daniel frowned.
“Caleb was stealing from you?”
“From everyone.”
Vanessa laughed bitterly.
“I thought he loved me.”
Daniel felt no sympathy for that.
She saw it.
“I know.”
“What did Marcus do?”
“He confronted Caleb.”
“And disappeared.”
“Yes.”
“You knew he was missing.”
“Yes.”
“You didn’t go to police.”
“No.”
“Why?”
“I was afraid Caleb would expose me.”
Daniel leaned back.
“So you stayed.”
“Yes.”
“And then?”
“Caleb told me we were too far in. If the trust failed, everything collapsed.”
“So he suggested killing me.”
Vanessa closed her eyes.
“Yes.”
“Did you agree?”
A long silence.
“Yes.”
Daniel felt the last remaining piece of their marriage die.
Vanessa cried.
“I told myself you wouldn’t feel anything.”
“Stop.”
“He said you’d be sedated.”
“Stop.”
“I need you to know—”
“I don’t need anything from you.”
Daniel stood.
Vanessa pressed her hand against the glass.
“Caleb will come for Claire.”
Daniel froze.
“Why?”
“Because she has access to Northline.”
“She created it.”
“And she can trace every dollar Caleb moved.”
Daniel sat again.
“Where would he take her?”
“I don’t know.”
“Think.”
Vanessa wiped her face.
“Caleb has a cabin.”
“Where?”
“Pennsylvania. Somewhere near Hawley.”
Daniel called Claire immediately.
No answer.
Again.
Nothing.
He called Maria.
“Have you seen Claire?”
“She left the mansion twenty minutes ago.”
“Where was she going?”
“She said she had to meet someone.”
“Who?”
Maria hesitated.
“She didn’t say.”
Daniel’s phone buzzed.
Claire.
A text.
DANIEL, I FOUND THE NORTHLINE ACCOUNT.
Then another.
CALEB STOLE $18 MILLION.
Then a third message appeared.
This one contained only:
I THINK HE KNOWS I FOUND IT.
Daniel called.
The phone connected.
No voice.
Just breathing.
May you like
Then Caleb whispered:
“Hello, little brother.”
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