Chapter 5 - THE MAN WHO DIED TWICE
Police returned to the manor before dawn.
Victor was questioned.
He asked for an attorney.
The underground room was sealed as a potential crime scene.
Eleanor remained at the station.
Ethan and Claire sat in separate corners of the kitchen.
Neither knew what to say.
Finally, Ethan broke the silence.
“Why did you leave me?”
Claire looked at him.
“You really still don’t know?”
“You said you needed space.”
“I was afraid.”
“Of me?”
“Of your mother.”
Ethan lowered his eyes.
Claire continued.
“Eighteen months ago, I found financial transfers from my inheritance account.”
“My mother didn’t have access to that.”
“She did.”
“That’s impossible.”
“She forged my authorization.”
Ethan stared at her.
“I confronted her.”
Claire said.
“She told me if I accused her publicly, she would destroy me.”
“What did she mean?”
“Two days later, someone sent you photographs of me with Daniel Reeves.”
Ethan stiffened.
Daniel had been Claire’s former coworker.
The photographs suggested an affair.
They had nearly ended the marriage.
“I believed them.”
Ethan said quietly.
“I know.”
“Were they fake?”
“The meeting happened.”
Claire said.
“But Daniel was helping me trace the transfers.”
Ethan closed his eyes.
Claire continued.
“Your mother cropped out the accountant sitting beside us.”
Ethan looked devastated.
“She told me you were preparing to leave.”
“She needed you angry with me.”
“So you left.”
“No.”
Claire’s voice dropped.
“I left because my brakes failed three days later.”
Ethan stared.
“What?”
“My car went through an intersection.”
“I thought you lost control.”
“The mechanic found the brake line had been cut.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I tried.”
Claire looked at him.
“You didn’t answer.”
His face changed.
“I never got a call.”
“I left three messages.”
Ethan grabbed his phone.
“Claire, I swear.”
She shook her head.
“I know now.”
“What?”
“Your mother had access to your cloud account.”
The kitchen door opened.
A detective entered.
“Mrs. Claire Hawthorne?”
“Yes?”
“We checked the evidence recovered downstairs.”
He paused.
“We found service records for your car.”
Claire’s heart pounded.
May you like
The detective placed a photograph on the table.
The mechanic who signed the work order was Victor Hawthorne.
