Chapter 4 - CLAIRE HAD LIED ABOUT THE NIGHT SARAH DIEDRichard wanted the footage immediately.
Michael had only still images.
The private investigator had the original files.
“What’s his name?”
“Daniel Ross.”
“Call him.”
Michael did.
No answer.
Again.
Nothing.
Richard’s irritation sharpened.
“When did you last speak?”
“Yesterday.”
“What did he say?”
“He wanted to meet.”
“About?”
“He said he found something bigger than Claire.”
Richard frowned.
“What does that mean?”
“I don’t know.”
The consultation-room door opened.
Claire stood there.
Neither man had heard her approach.
“What are you two talking about?”
Michael immediately locked his phone.
Too late.
Claire noticed.
Her expression changed.
“Michael?”
Richard stepped between them.
“We’re talking about Noah.”
Claire looked at him.
“Then why does Michael look terrified?”
“He should.”
She stared at her husband.
“What did you tell him?”
Michael said nothing.
Claire’s jaw tightened.
Richard watched her carefully.
“You knew Sarah.”
The blood drained from Claire’s face.
Only for a moment.
Then she smiled.
“Of course I knew Sarah.”
Richard stared.
“You told us you didn’t.”
“I said we weren’t close.”
“No. You said you’d never met her.”
Claire tilted her head.
“I don’t remember saying that.”
Richard almost admired the smoothness.
Michael didn’t.
“I remember.”
Claire looked at him.
The room became colder.
Michael continued.
“You told me you wished you could’ve met her because she sounded wonderful.”
Claire’s smile disappeared.
“This is really the conversation you want to have while your son is in the hospital?”
“That’s exactly why we’re having it.”
Richard moved closer.
“What were you doing behind Sarah on Route 16 the night she died?”
Claire froze.
Michael’s breathing changed.
There it was.
Not surprise.
Recognition.
Richard saw it.
Claire recovered.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Traffic camera.”
“What traffic camera?”
“Less than a mile behind Sarah.”
Claire laughed.
“That road leads to half the county.”
“Where were you going?”
“I don’t remember. It was three years ago.”
“You remember everything else.”
Claire’s eyes flashed.
“I don’t have to answer an interrogation from you.”
“No. But police might ask.”
That landed.
Claire turned toward Michael.
“You hired someone to investigate me?”
Michael didn’t deny it.
She stared.
“How long?”
“Two months.”
Her expression hardened.
“You pathetic bastard.”
Richard watched the mask drop.
Not stepmother.
Not concerned wife.
Something else.
Michael looked almost relieved to finally see it openly.
“You threatened me.”
“Because you were spying on me.”
“You locked Noah outside.”
“He needed discipline.”
Richard stepped forward.
Claire looked at him.
“Don’t.”
His voice was quiet.
“You need to leave.”
“This is my family.”
“Noah is my family.”
“He is my stepson.”
“Then start acting like it.”
Claire’s eyes glistened with rage.
“Do you know what that boy has done to this marriage?”
Michael stared.
“He’s six.”
“He refuses to let Sarah go.”
Richard almost couldn’t believe it.
“He lost his mother.”
“And every time he looks at me, I’m reminded I’ll never matter in that house.”
Michael whispered:
“Claire…”
She turned on him.
“You promised me we would start over.”
“With my son.”
“No. You promised me a family.”
“Noah is my family!”
For the first time, Michael sounded like a father.
Too late.
But real.
Claire’s face changed.
“You should be careful.”
Michael went pale.
Richard noticed.
“What does that mean?”
Claire smiled.
Nothing warm in it.
“Nothing.”
She walked out.
Richard closed the door.
“What is she holding over you besides that video?”
Michael didn’t answer.
Richard knew immediately.
“More.”
Michael looked broken.
“She knows about Sarah’s life insurance.”
“What about it?”
“I changed the beneficiary two months before she died.”
“To who?”
“Me.”
“That’s normal. You were her husband.”
“Sarah had changed it to Noah.”
Richard frowned.
“How did you change it back?”
Michael stared at the floor.
“She signed a form.”
“Did she?”
A long silence.
Michael’s shoulders sagged.
“No.”
Richard stepped back.
“You forged her signature?”
“I didn’t.”
“Then who?”
“I gave the paperwork to our financial manager.”
“Who?”
Michael swallowed.
“Claire.”
Richard couldn’t speak.
“She worked for the foundation then,” Michael said quickly. “She handled insurance and benefits. I told her Sarah and I had agreed to change it.”
“Had you?”
“No.”
“Jesus Christ.”
“I was angry. Sarah wanted to leave. I thought she was trying to cut me out.”
“You asked another woman to alter your wife’s life insurance.”
“I didn’t know Claire would forge anything!”
“But you took the money after Sarah died.”
Michael’s face crumpled.
“Yes.”
“How much?”
“Four million.”
Richard stared at his son like he no longer recognized him.
“And then you married Claire.”
“Two years later.”
“The woman who helped you alter the policy.”
“Yes.”
Richard understood why Michael had been easy to control.
Claire didn’t merely have edited video.
She had a financial crime.
Possibly insurance fraud.
Possibly motive.
If Sarah’s death became suspicious, Michael looked terrible.
Richard suddenly remembered the envelope.
His hand moved inside his coat.
He finally opened it.
Sarah’s handwriting filled two pages.
The first line made him stop.
Richard, if you are reading this, Michael either failed to believe me or something has happened to me.
Michael stared.
“What is that?”
Richard ignored him and continued.
Claire Morgan is not the person she claims to be.
Claire’s maiden name.
Then:
She is stealing from the Bennett Foundation, but she is not doing it alone.
Richard’s heart pounded.
At the bottom, Sarah had written one final sentence.
The person helping her is inside your own house.
Richard looked up.
Michael whispered:
“Who?”
Before Richard could answer, his phone rang.
Unknown number.
He picked up.
A man spoke quickly.
“Mr. Bennett? Daniel Ross.”
The investigator.
“Where are you?”
“I can’t come to the hospital.”
“Why?”
“Because Claire knows I found the second car.”
Richard froze.
“What second car?”
“The one between Claire and Sarah.”
Michael stood.
Daniel continued.
“I thought Claire followed Sarah that night.”
“She did.”
“Yes.”
“But someone else was following both of them.”
Richard’s skin turned cold.
“Who?”
Daniel’s voice dropped.
“I traced the plate.”
May you like
A pause.
“The car belonged to the Bennett Foundation.”
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