Chapter 8 - Laura Did Not Cause The Crash—But She Buried The Truth Around It
Richard wanted investigators to tell him Laura killed Marianne.
That would have given his fury somewhere simple to go.
The evidence would not support it.
The SUV had been inspected thoroughly after the crash.
Brakes functioned.
Steering showed no tampering.
Tires were within legal limits.
There was no evidence Laura followed Marianne from the estate.
No impact from another vehicle.
No physical evidence of sabotage.
Weather records showed intense rain across the ridge.
The road surface was slick.
Marianne entered the final curve too quickly, lost traction, and left the roadway.
The crash remained an accident.
But that did not mean Laura was innocent of everything surrounding it.
She had deliberately fabricated an emergency involving Marianne’s son.
She had lured Marianne away from her normal route in dangerous weather.
She had confronted her privately.
Then after learning Marianne died, Laura lied to police and Richard about ever seeing her.
She let the family spend thirteen years believing Marianne’s unexplained detour was a mystery nobody could solve.
Worse, she used Marianne’s death to move closer to Richard.
She comforted the widower while hiding the fact that one of Marianne’s final emotional shocks had been discovering Laura wanted her husband.
That was the betrayal Richard could barely absorb.
He had not married the woman who helped him survive Marianne’s death.
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He had married the woman who lied about the last hours of Marianne’s life.
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