Chapter 5: The Woman in the Red Scarf
My mother couldn't stop shaking.
She sat in the front pew, clutching the photograph as though it might burn her fingers.
My father stood beside her.
"Eleanor, why didn't you tell me?""
She looked at him through tear-filled eyes.
"Because Grace begged me not to.""
"She told me everything!""
"No, Robert. She didn't.""
My father stepped back.
For the first time in my life, I saw my parents looking like strangers.
I turned toward Gerald.
"What second recording?""
He opened his briefcase again.
"Mrs. Calloway recorded several conversations during the final days of her life. Some were made on her phone. Others were recovered from a digital recorder she kept in her study.""
Travis immediately objected.
"You're not playing another recording.""
Gerald looked at him.
"Why not?""
"Because you've already embarrassed this family enough.""
I couldn't believe what I was hearing.
"You embarrassed this family when you brought Sloane here.""
Travis pointed at me.
"Your sister wasn't innocent in all of this.""
My father lunged forward.
Two men caught his arms.
"Don't you dare speak about her like that!""
Gerald raised his voice.
"Everyone needs to remain calm. The recording may answer several questions.""
My mother looked up.
"Please play it.""
Gerald nodded.
He connected another device to the church sound system.
A faint click sounded through the speakers.
Then Grace's voice filled the room again.
"Mom, are you sure you want to do this?""
My mother covered her mouth.
Grace continued.
"I don't want you getting involved. Travis has already started making threats.""
A second voice answered.
My mother's.
"He's not going to scare me. You're my daughter.""
I looked at her.
She closed her eyes.
The recording continued.
"Mom, you don't understand. He knows about the money.""
"I don't care about the money.""
"I do. Because if he finds out what I discovered, he might do something terrible.""
My mother's voice softened.
"Then tell me what you found.""
A pause.
Grace answered.
"I found that Travis has been using my identity to guarantee loans for his company. He has been signing documents in my name.""
My father stared at the floor.
My mother continued.
"How much?""
"More than a million dollars.""
A collective murmur spread through the congregation.
Grace went on.
"I don't think he intended to pay it back. I think he was planning to sell the house and disappear before anyone realized the signatures were forged.""
Travis shook his head.
"That's completely fabricated.""
Gerald stopped the recording.
"Would you like to explain the loan documents?""
"I've never seen them.""
"Your wife's copies contain your company identification number and your signature.""
"Anyone could have copied those.""
Gerald restarted the recording.
Grace's voice returned.
"Mom, I found another name on the paperwork.""
My mother's voice sounded frightened.
"Whose?""
"Victor Hale.""
Travis suddenly stopped moving.
Grace continued.
"He's the man Travis used to work with before he started Calloway Development. I think they're still working together.""
My father frowned.
"Victor was fired from the company years ago.""
"Why?"" I whispered.
Gerald answered without looking away from the laptop.
"According to company records, he was dismissed after an internal investigation involving missing funds.""
My mother looked at him.
"Then why would Travis be working with him?""
"That is something the investigators are examining.""
The recording continued.
Grace said:
"Mom, I need you to understand something. Victor isn't just helping Travis hide money. I think he's helping him make the evidence disappear.""
My mother's recorded voice became quiet.
"What evidence?""
"The original loan agreements. The ones with my forged signature.""
Then came a sound.
A door closing.
Grace whispered:
"Someone's here.""
The recording stopped.
Gerald checked the device.
"That appears to be the end of that file.""
My mother looked horrified.
"That's when I left.""
I turned toward her.
"What?""
She wiped her cheeks.
"Grace called me that evening. She was terrified. I drove to her house because she wouldn't explain anything over the phone.""
"Why didn't you tell Dad?""
"She asked me not to.""
My father shook his head.
"Why?""
My mother looked at him.
"Because she thought Travis had someone watching the house.""
The words made my skin crawl.
My father sat down.
My mother continued.
"When I arrived, Grace showed me the documents. She had printed bank statements, copies of loan agreements, and photographs of Travis meeting Victor.""
"Did you see Travis?"" I asked.
"No.""
"Did Grace tell you he was coming home?""
"She said he was supposed to be away until late.""
My mother looked down.
"But I heard a car outside. Grace told me to leave immediately.""
"Why?""
"She said she didn't want me there when Travis arrived.""
I stared at her.
"So you left?""
She nodded.
"I drove away. I thought she was safe because she said Gerald was coming the following morning.""
My father lowered his head.
"What time?""
"About eight thirty.""
I looked at the photograph.
8:31 p.m.
The timestamp matched.
"Did you see anyone else?""
My mother hesitated.
"Someone was standing near the garage.""
Gerald leaned forward.
"Can you describe him?""
"Not clearly. He was wearing a dark jacket. I thought he was a delivery driver.""
Travis suddenly spoke.
"You're wasting everyone's time.""
My mother looked at him.
"You knew?""
He laughed.
"About what?""
"About the forged documents. Did you know Grace had discovered them?""
Travis's face tightened.
"Your daughter was constantly accusing me of things.""
My mother rose.
"She was terrified of you!""
"She was paranoid!""
"She was carrying your child!""
Travis looked away.
My father stood again.
"You have five seconds to explain why your wife was afraid to be alone in her own house.""
Travis looked at him.
"Because she was being manipulated by people who wanted to take my company.""
Gerald raised an eyebrow.
"Who?""
Travis didn't answer.
"Victor Hale?""
Travis's silence was enough.
Sloane, who had returned quietly through a side entrance, suddenly spoke.
"He's lying.""
Everyone turned.
She stood near the back pew, holding her handbag against her chest.
Travis's expression changed.
"What are you doing here?""
Sloane ignored him.
"I came back because I need to tell you something.""
Gerald gestured toward an empty seat.
"Please sit down, Miss Bennett.""
"I'd rather stand.""
Travis took a step toward her.
"Don't do this.""
Sloane looked at him.
"You told me she was going to sign the documents.""
My father frowned.
"What documents?""
Sloane swallowed.
"The loan papers.""
Travis shook his head.
"Stop talking.""
She continued.
"He told me Grace was aware of the business arrangement. He said she was helping him restructure the company.""
Gerald's expression became serious.
"Did you see these documents?""
"Yes.""
"Did you witness Mrs. Calloway signing them?""
Sloane shook her head.
"No.""
"Then how did you know her signature was on them?""
"Travis told me.""
Travis laughed.
"She's making this up because she's angry.""
Sloane's eyes filled.
"You told me you were going to leave Grace after the baby was born.""
"Not here.""
"You said she was holding you back.""
"Enough.""
"You said the baby wasn't even going to change anything.""
My mother made a strangled sound.
I wanted to cross the room and slap him.
But Sloane wasn't finished.
"Three days before Grace died, Travis asked me to meet him at a hotel. He gave me an envelope and told me to keep it somewhere safe.""
Gerald stepped closer.
"Do you still have it?""
Sloane nodded.
"Yes.""
Travis's face went white.
"Where?""
She looked at him.
"Somewhere you can't reach.""
Gerald asked, "What was inside?""
Sloane swallowed.
"Photographs. Bank statements. And a handwritten note.""
"What did the note say?""
She looked at the casket.
Then back at Travis.
"It said that if Grace refused to cooperate, the house would be sold before the end of the month.""
My father stood motionless.
"Who wrote it?""
Sloane looked down.
"Travis.""
He lunged toward her.
"You stupid—"
The security men blocked him.
Gerald immediately raised his phone.
"Miss Bennett, I suggest you contact the sheriff's office.""
Travis began shouting.
"She stole company property! She's trying to frame me!""
Sloane backed away.
"I didn't steal anything. You gave it to me.""
I looked at her.
"Why did you come here with him?""
She began crying.
"Because I believed him.""
"After everything?""
"I thought Grace and Travis were separated. He told me she was staying in the house because she had nowhere else to go.""
I shook my head.
"You knew she was pregnant.""
"I know.""
"You knew she was his wife.""
"I know.""
"And you sat beside her casket.""
Sloane lowered her eyes.
"I know.""
For once, I didn't have anything to say.
Gerald approached her.
"Where is the envelope?""
Sloane hesitated.
Then she reached into her handbag and removed a small brass key.
"It's in a storage unit.""
"What storage unit?""
"Unit 214 at the Cedar Ridge Storage Center.""
Gerald took out his phone.
"Who has access?""
"Only me.""
Travis suddenly stopped struggling.
His expression had changed.
He wasn't angry anymore.
He looked terrified.
"Don't open it," he whispered.
Sloane stared at him.
"Why?""
Travis looked toward the casket.
May you like
Then he said something that made Gerald immediately call the sheriff.
"Because there's a photograph in that envelope showing who was really at the top of the stairs.""
