Chapter 8: The Payment
“Did Marcus pay you?””
The question came out before I could soften it.
Denise didn't answer.
Naomi watched both of us.
Rain tapped against the office windows.
“Claire,” Denise said carefully, “what exactly are you asking?””
“Did Marcus pay you forty thousand dollars?””
Her expression changed.
“Where did you hear that?””
I held up Naomi's phone.
“Someone sent it.””
Denise sat down.
Then she slowly removed her glasses.
“There was a payment.””
My stomach dropped.
“You admitted it.””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“Because I was investigating your husband.””
“That makes no sense.””
“It will.””
She opened her briefcase.
Inside was a sealed envelope.
“I received this two years ago.””
“What is it?””
“A retainer.””
“From Marcus?””
“Yes.””
“You took his money.””
“I did.””
“Why?””
“Because I needed access to his records.””
I stared at her.
“You were working against him?””
“Yes.””
“Then why didn't you tell me?””
“Because I wasn't sure who I could trust.””
“You were my lawyer.””
“I became your lawyer three days ago.””
She leaned forward.
“I was investigating Marcus long before you hired me.””
“Why?””
“Because he wasn't the only person moving foundation money.””
I felt my pulse racing.
“Who else?””
“Daniel.””
I stared at her.
“My brother?””
“Yes.””
“He stole from the foundation?””
“No.””
“Then what?””
Denise pulled out another document.
“Daniel discovered the first irregularity.””
I read the page.
An internal audit.
Three years ago.
Daniel's name was listed as the employee who had raised concerns.
He had written:
*Funds appear to be diverted through a secondary consulting entity. Further review required.*
My hands shook.
“Why didn't he tell me?””
“Because Marcus threatened him.””
“With what?””
“Evidence from the acquisition.””
“What evidence?””
“Daniel had been involved in the original due diligence.””
I looked up.
“So he knew about the accounting fraud.””
“Yes.””
“And Marcus covered it up.””
“Yes.””
“And then the foundation money was used to hide the losses.””
“Yes.””
“Then why was Daniel at the crash?””
Denise took a breath.
“He was following the money.””
I stared at her.
“He wasn't trying to hurt me?””
“No.””
“Then who was driving the SUV?””
“We still don't know.””
I thought of the video.
The man holding the gun.
The dark vehicle.
The crash.
“Where is Daniel now?””
“I don't know.””
“Did you speak to him?””
“Once.””
“When?””
“Yesterday.””
“What did he say?””
“He told me he had found the original ledger.””
“What ledger?””
“The one proving where every dollar went.””
“Where is it?””
“He didn't tell me.””
I felt my phone vibrate.
A message.
*The ledger is in your house.*
I looked up.
Denise read it over my shoulder.
“No.””
“What?””
“You can't go there.””
“Why?””
“Because if someone knows where the ledger is, your house may be watched.””
“I need to find it.””
“Claire, this is exactly what they want.””
“Who?””
She looked at me.
“Whoever is sending these messages.””
Naomi suddenly spoke.
“They've been helping us.””
Denise looked at her.
“Maybe.””
“They warned Mom.””
“I know.””
“They warned me.””
“I know.””
“They knew about Dad.””
Denise's expression softened.
“Naomi, sweetheart, that doesn't mean they're safe.””
Naomi frowned.
“What if they're Daniel?””
I looked at her.
“What?””
She held up her phone.
“I think they are.””
Denise went still.
“Why?””
“Because the first message came after Uncle Daniel disappeared.””
I stared at her.
“Naomi, how do you know when he disappeared?””
“Dad told me.””
“When?””
“A long time ago.””
I felt a chill.
“Naomi, what else did Dad tell you?””
She looked down.
“He said Uncle Daniel was dangerous.””
“Did he say why?””
“He said Uncle Daniel blamed him for something.””
“What?””
“I don't know.””
Then Naomi opened the anonymous conversation.
She scrolled.
“Look.””
The first message.
Two months earlier.
*Your father is lying to your mother. Keep these safe.*
Then she showed me another.
*If she asks about the blue box, don't tell her where it is.*
I frowned.
“What blue box?””
Naomi looked at me.
“I don't know.””
Another message.
*Your mother already knows where to look. She just doesn't remember.*
My heart stopped.
“What does that mean?””
Naomi scrolled further.
Then she found an old photograph.
It showed me and Marcus at our wedding.
Behind us stood my father.
My mother.
Daniel.
And on the table beside my father was a small blue metal box.
I stared at it.
“I've seen that.””
“Where?””
“In Dad's house.””
“My parents' old house?””
“Yes.””
I suddenly remembered.
After my father died, I had taken a few boxes of his belongings.
Marcus had insisted on handling the rest.
I had never questioned it.
“What if he took the blue box?””
Denise stood.
“Then we need to find out.””
My phone rang.
Marcus.
I answered.
“What?””
His voice was strained.
“Claire, where are you?””
“Why?””
“Because I know about the messages.””
My blood ran cold.
“What messages?””
“Don't lie to me.””
“Where are you?””
“Not far.””
“What do you want?””
“I want Naomi.””
“No.””
“I need to talk to her.””
“You lost that right.””
He breathed heavily.
“Claire, listen to me. Brielle was lying.””
“About what?””
“Everything.””
“Convenient.””
“Daniel is manipulating you.””
“Where is he?””
“I don't know.””
“You're lying.””
“I'm trying to keep you alive.””
“Then tell me the truth.””
Silence.
Finally, he said:
“The blue box isn't in your father's house.””
My heart stopped.
“How do you know about the box?””
“Because I put it there.””
“Why?””
“It contains the original ledger.””
I closed my eyes.
“Where is it now?””
“I don't know.””
“Who has it?””
“I think Daniel.””
“Why would Daniel have it?””
“Because he stole it.””
“Then why did you hide it?””
“Because the ledger doesn't just expose me.””
“What else does it expose?””
Marcus whispered:
“It exposes the person who ordered the crash.””
I looked at Naomi.
“Who?””
Marcus didn't answer.
“Marcus.””
His voice broke.
“I wasn't the target, Claire.””
My skin prickled.
“Who was?””
“You.””
The line went dead.
I stared at the phone.
Then Naomi suddenly gasped.
“Mom.””
“What?””
She pointed at her screen.
The anonymous sender had sent one final message.
*Your husband is telling the truth about one thing.*
Then:
*You were the target.*
A photograph followed.
It showed a blue metal box.
Sitting on a table.
Beside it was a handwritten note.
May you like
And beneath the note was a name.
*Claire Hale.*
