Chapter 9: The Truth Claire Tried to Hide
The next morning, I went to Claire’s house.
I didn’t tell anyone.
Not Ethan.
Not Detective Harris.
Nobody.
Because I finally understood something Daniel had learned the hard way.
The more people who knew the truth, the more chances there were for the wrong person to hear it.
Claire opened the door wearing a surprised expression.
“Emily?””
“I need to talk.””
She immediately looked uncomfortable.
“Now isn’t a good time.””
“That’s exactly why I’m here.””
She stepped outside and closed the door behind her.
“You need to stop.””
I stared at her.
“Stop what?””
“Digging.””
There it was.
Not concern.
Not confusion.
Fear.
“You know about Daniel’s investigation.””
Her face changed.
Only slightly.
But enough.
“I don’t know what you think you found.””
“I found Victor’s name.””
She went pale.
That was all I needed.
“Claire.””
She looked away.
“Please.””
“Did you know?””
“No.””
The answer came too quickly.
I stepped closer.
“Did you know what Victor was doing?””
Her silence answered.
I felt betrayed.
Not because Claire had protected Victor.
I expected that.
Because she had watched me suffer.
At the funeral.
At family dinners.
For years.
And she knew.
“You let Margaret destroy me.””
Her eyes filled with tears.
“I didn’t know how to stop her.””
“That’s not true.””
I shook my head.
“You chose not to.””
Claire looked down.
“My whole life, Margaret has controlled everyone.””
“And you let her.””
“Yes.””
The honesty surprised me.
She wiped her face.
“When Daniel started asking questions, I told Victor to stop.””
My heart pounded.
“You knew.””
She nodded.
“I knew he was taking money.””
The words were barely audible.
“How much?””
“I don’t know.””
“Why?””
“Because he said it wasn’t stealing.””
She laughed bitterly.
“He said he was correcting things.””
“Correcting what?””
Claire looked at me.
“Daniel’s father.””
I froze.
“What about him?””
She hesitated.
Then whispered:
“Your father-in-law didn’t die from a heart attack.””
The world went silent.
I stared at her.
“What?””
“He found out about the money.””
My skin turned cold.
“And Margaret?””
Claire closed her eyes.
“She covered it up.””
I couldn’t move.
All the pieces suddenly connected.
Daniel’s father.
The foundation.
The missing money.
The lies.
“Did Margaret kill him?””
Claire didn’t answer.
But her tears did.
I stepped back.
“How long have you known?””
“Three years.””
Three years.
She had known for three years.
And she watched Daniel.
She watched me.
She watched Noah.
“Why tell me now?””
Claire looked toward her house.
“Because Victor knows you have the phone.””
A chill went through me.
“How?””
“He saw Daniel give it to Noah.””
My heart stopped.
“What?””
Claire whispered:
“Daniel didn’t trust anyone except your son.””
I felt dizzy.
“Where is Victor now?””
Her face changed.
“He left.””
“When?””
“An hour ago.””
“Where did he go?””
Claire looked terrified.
“Emily…”
“Where?””
She swallowed.
“He went to your house.””
I immediately grabbed my phone.
And then I heard it.
The sound.
A message arriving.
Unknown number.
One sentence.
*You should have left the truth buried.*
I looked at Claire.
Then toward the road.
Because I knew.
Someone was already there.
May you like
And this time…
they weren’t coming to warn me.
