Chapter 10 - THE SECOND RECORDING
Samuel knew where Claire had hidden the rest of the recording.
Behind a loose stone in the old fireplace.
Ethan retrieved a small digital card.
Daniel inserted it into the recorder.
Claire’s voice returned.
This time she sounded angry.
“You went into Sophie’s trust.”
Richard answered.
“I corrected a mistake.”
“She is Marianne’s granddaughter.”
“She is the legal heir.”
“She is six months old.”
“She doesn’t need nine hundred million dollars.”
Claire said, “Neither do you.”
Richard’s voice hardened.
“You think Ethan married you because you were special?”
“He married you because you were useful.”
Ethan closed his eyes.
He could imagine Claire standing in that room.
Alone with a man she had discovered was both family and enemy.
Claire spoke again.
“If I tell Ethan everything, he’ll destroy you.”
Richard laughed.
“No.”
“He’ll destroy himself trying.”
Then there was a sound.
A glass breaking.
Claire said, “Get out.”
Richard replied, “Give me the trust access codes.”
“No.”
“Claire.”
“No.”
The recording became muffled.
Then Claire’s breathing changed.
Ethan leaned closer.
Claire whispered, “What did you put in that?”
Richard said nothing.
Ethan’s entire body went rigid.
On the recording, Claire struggled to breathe.
Then Richard’s voice came softly.
“You should have stayed out of family business.”
The recording ended.
No one moved.
Sophie was upstairs with Daniel’s assistant, who had arrived minutes earlier.
Thank God.
She had not heard it.
Ethan stared at the recorder.
Claire’s death had been ruled a sudden cardiac event.
She had no known heart condition.
Richard had told investigators he was in Boston.
Samuel whispered, “Claire sent me a message that night.”
“What message?”
“She said she felt strange after drinking tea Richard brought her.”
“Why didn’t you tell the police?”
“I tried.”
“Richard produced records showing he was out of state.”
“And I had no proof.”
Ethan turned toward him.
“You had her message.”
“It disappeared from my account.”
Daniel looked at Samuel.
“Richard had access?”
“Through a company administrator.”
Celeste suddenly spoke.
“I know who.”
Everyone turned.
She looked terrified.
“Richard never handled the technical side himself.”
“He used a man named Michael Dorn.”
Daniel stood.
“Michael Dorn?”
“You know him?”
Daniel’s expression became grim.
“He manages cybersecurity for Ethan’s company.”
Ethan felt another betrayal land.
“How long?”
Celeste swallowed.
“Since before Claire died.”
Then headlights swept across the basement windows.
Not one car.
May you like
Several.
Richard had found them.
