Chapter 7 - THE NIGHT IN THE BACKYARD
Claire was told to leave the mansion while police investigated.
She refused until Detective Cole explained that Daniel owned the property.
Claire smiled.
“No. He manages it.”
Daniel looked at her.
“What does that mean?”
She collected her handbag.
“Ask your late wife.”
Rachel Bennett inherited shares in Bennett Development from her father.
After her death, those shares moved into a trust for Noah.
Daniel administered the trust.
He believed the mansion belonged to his company.
Claire suggested otherwise.
“The house was purchased with Rachel’s trust.”
Daniel had never examined the original transaction.
Claire left for a hotel.
Before entering her car, she looked toward Noah’s upstairs window.
The boy moved behind the curtain.
That night, Daniel slept outside Noah’s room.
He did not trust the locks.
At three in the morning, Noah woke screaming.
Daniel waited at the doorway.
“Noah, it’s Dad.”
The boy opened his eyes.
He looked around.
The warm room.
The open door.
The travel bag blocking it.
“You’re inside,” Daniel said.
Noah touched the mattress.
“She said I could come in if I told her where the papers were.”
“What papers?”
“The blue folder.”
Noah had seen Claire and the man from the gate arguing over a blue folder.
It contained property records and trust statements.
The man wanted Claire to destroy it.
She refused.
Noah took it from the kitchen table and hid it.
“Where?”
The boy hesitated.
Daniel did not pressure him.
“You can tell Detective Cole instead of me.”
Noah looked surprised.
“You won’t be mad?”
“No.”
“What if it’s your money?”
“Then it is still not your responsibility to protect it alone.”
Noah finally answered.
He hid the folder at school.
Inside his art cabinet.
Claire began keeping him home before she could retrieve it.
Her claims about suspension were false.
The next morning, Daniel called Briarwood Academy.
The principal sounded confused.
Noah had not been suspended.
Claire withdrew him three weeks earlier.
She told the school the family was relocating temporarily.
Teachers had emailed Daniel.
Every message was redirected to an address Claire created.
Daniel opened the false inbox.
There were dozens of messages.
Noah’s teacher asking why he disappeared.
The counselor requesting a welfare check.
A classmate sending homework.
One final email came from the principal.
WE HAVE CONTACTED THE PARENT NUMBER ON FILE.
The number belonged to Claire.
May you like
She answered the school.
Then she told them Daniel did not want further contact.
