Chapter 6
My father-in-law had died five years earlier.
Officially, a heart attack.
Not a boating accident.
I turned to Margaret.
“Grant’s father died from a heart attack.”
Grant’s video answered before she did.
“Dad did not die the way Mom told everyone. He drowned after a boat went down near Bennett Cove. She changed the story because the insurance paid more if his heart condition was blamed.”
Margaret backed toward the door.
Miles stepped in front of her.
Grant’s voice continued.
“I found the original marine report. Dad had filed for divorce. He planned to leave part of the estate to a child Mom never acknowledged.”
Serena whispered, “What child?”
The screen seemed to glow colder.
Grant looked broken.
“I have a sister.”
Margaret slapped the laptop shut.
The room went silent.
Then Lydia opened it again.
“Touch evidence again and I call police right now.”
Margaret’s breathing turned ragged.
“You have no idea what you’re doing.”
“Yes,” I said. “For the first time, I do.”
Poppy looked up.
“Daddy had a sister?”
“I don’t know, baby.”
But Margaret did.
Her face told me she did.
Serena stood unsteadily.
“I should go.”
Margaret turned on her.
“You will stay.”
Serena froze.
I recognized that tone.
A command sharpened by money.
Serena was not just Grant’s mistress.
She was trapped in Margaret’s plan too.
Lydia called Detective Mara Collins, a woman she trusted.
While we waited, Miles searched the desk further.
Behind a false panel, he found an old photograph.
Grant as a teenager.
His father.
Margaret.
And a young girl with dark curls.
On the back, Grant had written:
Find Claire Bennett.
My breath caught.
Claire.
My daughter’s middle name was Claire.
Grant had chosen it.
I had thought it was after no one.
Margaret whispered, “That girl is dead.”
May you like
Lydia looked at her.
“Then you won’t mind if we verify.”
