Chapter 6 - VALERIE’S FIRST LIE
Valerie remained under guard at the hospital.
She had not yet been formally arrested because investigators were still confirming the evidence.
Detective Brooks questioned her in a private room.
Alejandro watched through the glass.
Valerie denied everything.
She claimed Marissa had been obsessed with her.
She claimed the storage unit had been rented by someone using her identity.
She claimed Martin was blackmailing her.
Brooks placed the photograph from the storage unit on the table.
It showed Valerie watching Marissa outside Dr. Harris’s clinic.
Valerie looked at it only once.
“Martin took that.”
“Why?”
“He wanted proof that Marissa was meeting the doctor.”
“Why did that matter?”
Valerie’s mouth tightened.
Brooks placed Daniel’s insurance file beside the photograph.
“You processed this claim.”
“I processed hundreds.”
“This one created a trust for Sophie.”
“I do not remember.”
“You signed as a witness.”
Valerie leaned back.
“Then the trust was legal.”
“Where did the money go?”
“I do not know.”
Brooks showed her a transfer record recovered from Martin’s drives.
The twelve million dollars moved through three shell accounts.
One account belonged to Raymond Lane.
Another belonged to Martin Wells.
The third belonged to Valerie.
She looked toward the one-way glass.
She knew Alejandro was there.
“I was twenty-two.”
“I did what Martin told me.”
“You stole from a child.”
“I did not know Sophie.”
“You followed her mother for years.”
Valerie’s composure cracked.
“Marissa would not stop.”
“She wanted every dollar returned.”
“She threatened to report all of us.”
“Did you damage her brakes?”
“No.”
“Did your uncle?”
Valerie looked down.
Detective Brooks waited.
Silence became heavier than an accusation.
Finally, Valerie whispered,
“Raymond said he would frighten her.”
“Did Martin order it?”
“I do not know.”
“Did you know before she drove?”
Valerie began crying.
“I knew something was going to happen.”
Alejandro left the observation room.
He could not listen to more.
In the corridor, Rosa stood beside Sophie’s door.
“You married the woman who watched your sister die.”
Alejandro closed his eyes.
“I know.”
“No.”
“You know part of it.”
Rosa held up the tablet.
“I found a recording from the morning of the accident.”
On the screen, Marissa sat inside her car.
Another voice came through the speaker.
It belonged to Alejandro.
At least, it sounded like him.
The voice told Marissa to take the Austin route.
Alejandro stared at the device.
“I never made that call.”
May you like
Rosa looked toward the police room.
“Then someone used your voice to send her where they wanted.”
