Chapter 8: Aunt Claire
“That’s impossible.””
I couldn't stop staring at the empty street.
Susan folded her arms.
“I thought the same thing.””
Margaret looked at the photograph again.
“Are you certain that's Claire?””
Susan nodded.
“I grew up with her.””
“But she's dead.””
Susan's eyes met mine.
“No.””
My stomach dropped.
“She disappeared.””
“When?””
“Twelve years ago.””
“Why?””
Susan hesitated.
“Because she was involved with Richard.””
Daniel stepped back.
“What?””
Susan looked at him.
“You didn't know?””
“No.””
“Then your wife never told you everything.””
My heart pounded.
“Tell me.””
Susan looked at Margaret.
Margaret nodded.
Susan opened the folder again.
“There was a second person involved in your mother's financial problems.””
“Claire?””
“Yes.””
“Who was she?””
“Your mother's older sister.””
I stared at the photograph.
Claire stood beside my mother, both women smiling at a family picnic.
“She helped Richard borrow money,” Susan said.
“At least, that's what your mother believed.””
“Why would my aunt help him?””
“Because Richard promised her a share of the business they were trying to start.””
“What business?””
“An investment company.””
Margaret shook her head.
“That company never existed.””
Susan nodded.
“Exactly.””
Daniel looked stunned.
“How much money?””
“Enough to ruin your mother.””
I thought about the missing trust money.
“Is Claire the person who helped Richard steal it?””
Susan shook her head.
“No.””
“Then what does she want?””
Susan pulled another document from the folder.
“This.””
It was an old insurance policy.
My mother's signature was at the bottom.
I read the beneficiary section.
My name.
Then I read the second beneficiary.
*Claire Morgan.*
I looked up.
“Why would Mom leave money to Claire?””
“She didn't.””
Margaret took the document.
“This beneficiary designation was changed after your mother's death.””
My blood went cold.
“After?””
“Yes.””
Margaret studied the signature.
“This is forged.””
Daniel looked at me.
“Richard.””
“Maybe.””
Susan shook her head.
“Not Richard.””
She reached into the folder again.
“This was attached to the policy.””
A photocopy of an envelope.
The return address was from a private investigator.
Margaret read it.
“November 14.””
She looked at me.
“Three weeks before the accident.””
Susan nodded.
“Your mother hired him to find Claire.””
“Why?””
“Because Claire had been sending her messages.””
“What kind?””
Susan looked uncomfortable.
“Warnings.””
I stared at her.
“About Richard?””
“About someone else.””
The room fell silent.
“Who?””
Susan's voice dropped.
“Daniel.””
I turned toward him.
He looked as shocked as I felt.
“What?””
Susan shook her head quickly.
“Your mother didn't believe Daniel was dangerous. She believed someone wanted her to believe he was.””
Margaret took the papers from Susan.
“Someone was deliberately creating evidence against Daniel.””
“Why?””
“So if anything happened to your mother, suspicion would fall on him.””
I remembered the email.
*If Richard contacts Emma, let him come back. We need him to reveal where he put the missing money.*
I looked at Daniel.
“Did you know my mother was investigating Claire?””
“No.””
“Did you know Claire was alive?””
“No.””
“Did you know someone was trying to frame you?””
“No.””
He looked devastated.
Then my phone buzzed.
A new security alert.
*Protected trust account activated.*
I opened it.
A transfer had been made.
Not out.
In.
*$38,600.00*
The exact amount Richard had stolen from my savings.
I stared at the screen.
“Who put this back?””
Margaret leaned closer.
“There's more.””
A second deposit appeared.
*$176,183.19*
The entire remaining trust balance.
Every dollar had been returned.
Then a message appeared beneath the transaction.
*You have been looking in the wrong account.*
Another message followed.
*Your mother didn't leave you money. She left you evidence.*
I looked at Susan.
“Who is sending these?””
She shook her head.
“I don't know.””
A third message appeared.
*Ask Margaret why your mother changed her will three days before she died.*
Margaret went completely still.
I slowly raised my eyes.
“Margaret?””
She didn't answer.
“Why did my mother change her will?””
Margaret closed the folder.
“Because she discovered who Richard's partner was.””
“Who?””
Margaret looked toward Daniel.
May you like
Then at me.
“Someone inside this room.””
