Chapter 7 - THE ACCIDENT
Claire remembered the car accident from six months earlier.
A truck ran a red light and struck the passenger side of her car. She survived because she had leaned forward to retrieve her phone.
Police called it a hit-and-run.
Daniel arrived at the hospital before Evelyn.
He told doctors Claire had a history of anxiety medication.
She did not.
At the time, Claire thought he was confused.
Now she knew he was preparing a record.
Morales reopened the crash investigation.
Traffic footage showed the truck belonged to a delivery company controlled by one of Daniel’s shell businesses.
The driver, Aaron Sykes, disappeared the next day.
A warrant linked Sykes to a cabin in northern Maine.
Police found the cabin empty.
On the wall were photographs of Claire, Evelyn, June Whitaker, and two other women.
A calendar marked future court dates.
Sykes was not only a driver.
He was Daniel’s enforcer.
Then Evelyn vanished from the rehabilitation center.
A nurse received forged discharge orders bearing Claire’s signature.
Security video showed Evelyn leaving with a man in medical scrubs.
Aaron Sykes.
Claire’s phone rang.
Daniel called from jail.
“You should have left the family alone.”
“Where is she?”
“I’m in custody, Claire.”
“You ordered it.”
He laughed softly.
“Your mother has always been good at disappearing when consequences arrive.”
Claire understood.
Daniel wanted police to suspect Evelyn fled voluntarily.
He wanted her to look guilty.
But Evelyn left a clue.
Before leaving, she scratched three letters into the wooden arm of her wheelchair.
RBC.
Robert Bennett Cabin.
Claire’s father owned an old hunting cabin in Vermont, abandoned after his death.
Police raced there.
Claire insisted on going but Morales refused.
So Claire drove separately.
She arrived minutes after the tactical team.
The cabin was empty.
A bloodied scarf lay on the floor.
Evelyn’s.
A laptop sat open on the table.
On screen was a live video feed.
Evelyn sat tied to a chair in another location.
Sykes stood behind her.
Vanessa entered the frame.
Claire stared.
Vanessa had been released under monitoring after cooperating.
She had removed the ankle bracelet.
She looked into the camera.
“Bring the original ledgers.”
Morales whispered, “They don’t know we already copied them.”
Vanessa continued.
“And bring Claire.”
The feed ended.
Claire looked around the cabin.
The walls were covered with old photographs from her childhood.
One showed Robert beside a lake.
In the background stood a water tower painted with a blue star.
Claire recognized it from summer trips.
The abandoned Bennett paper mill.
The original ledgers were hidden there before Robert moved them to the greenhouse. Daniel must believe a second set remained.
Morales ordered teams to the mill.
Claire stayed behind.
At least, that was the plan.
Then she found a note beneath the laptop.
Claire—
Police will get her killed. Come alone through the south tunnel.
She knew it was a trap.
She also knew Daniel’s network had access to police information.
Someone inside the response team might warn Vanessa.
May you like
Claire photographed the note and sent it to Morales.
Then she entered the tunnel.
