Chapter 13 - Gerald Vale’s Grave
Gerald Vale was buried in Sleepy Hollow Cemetery.
Emily arrived the next morning with Daniel, Margaret, and Samuel.
Vanessa had been released pending investigation because the necklace incident alone had not yet produced formal charges.
Daniel wanted police involved immediately.
Emily wanted answers first.
Gerald’s grave looked ordinary.
Black granite.
Gold lettering.
BELOVED FATHER.
Daniel stared at the words.
“Apparently not honest enough to mention thief.”
Margaret looked around.
“What are we searching for?”
Samuel studied the headstone.
“Clara liked riddles.”
Emily frowned.
“My mother?”
“She knew Gerald loved his own name.”
Samuel touched the engraved initials.
G.V.
Then he noticed something.
A small metal plate behind the stone.
He removed it.
Inside was a key.
Emily almost laughed.
“Everyone in this family hid keys.”
Daniel replied, “Apparently therapy was unpopular.”
For the first time, Emily smiled.
Then they noticed a mausoleum across the path.
VALE FAMILY.
The key opened it.
Inside, behind Gerald’s crypt, was a narrow compartment.
Daniel pulled out a leather envelope.
Missing pages.
Emily opened them.
Names filled the first page.
Judges.
Officials.
Executives.
Payments.
Then one entry stopped Daniel cold.
MARGARET SHAW.
Emily looked at her.
Margaret went pale.
“No.”
Samuel read the line.
PAYMENT: $250,000.
DATE: THREE DAYS AFTER CLARA’S DISAPPEARANCE.
Emily stepped back.
“You were paid?”
Margaret’s eyes filled.
“No.”
“The ledger says you were.”
“I never received that money.”
Daniel stared.
“Then why is your name there?”
Margaret shook her head.
“I don’t know.”
Samuel turned the page.
Another entry.
ACCOUNT TRANSFERRED TO M.S. FOUNDATION.
Margaret whispered, “That was my husband.”
Emily frowned.
“You were married?”
“Yes.”
Margaret explained that her husband, Michael Shaw, died twenty years ago.
He had worked as an investigator for Richard Ashbourne.
Emily felt cold.
“Did he help find Clara?”
Margaret looked horrified.
“I don’t know.”
Daniel asked, “Did he know you helped her escape?”
“Yes.”
Silence.
Margaret slowly sat on a stone bench.
“Oh God.”
Emily understood before she said it.
“You think your husband betrayed my mother.”
Margaret began crying.
Samuel kept reading.
The final page contained one handwritten sentence from Gerald.
MICHAEL DELIVERED THE GIRL.
Emily’s chest tightened.
“Which girl?”
Nobody answered.
Then a voice came from behind them.
“Not Clara.”
They turned.
Vanessa stood at the mausoleum entrance.
May you like
She looked at Emily.
“Michael Shaw delivered you.”
