Chapter 6: What Happened the Night Claire Died
I waited until Vanessa's bedroom door closed.
Then I turned toward Brielle.
“What did your mother mean?””
Brielle shook her head.
“I don't know.””
“Has she ever mentioned the night Claire died?””
“She doesn't talk about Claire.””
“Ever?””
“Sometimes she says you were never the same afterward.””
I looked toward the staircase.
“Did you know your mother and Claire had met?””
Brielle hesitated.
Then she nodded.
“When I was little, I remember Mom arguing with her on the phone.””
“About what?””
“I don't remember. I was maybe six.””
She wiped her cheeks.
“But I remember one thing.””
“What?””
“Mom said Claire didn't know when to leave things alone.””
I looked at Noah.
He was standing beside the refrigerator, holding a strawberry.
“Buddy, why don't you take your food upstairs?””
He shook his head.
“Can I stay with you?””
“Of course.””
He sat at the kitchen table.
I pulled the chair beside him closer.
Then I called Daniel again.
He answered immediately.
“Marcus.””
“Vanessa just told me there was a reason Claire wanted those recordings buried.””
The attorney was silent.
“Did she say something about the night Claire died?””
“She said I would never look at her the same way if I knew what happened.””
Daniel sighed.
“Marcus, I think it's time I showed you something Claire left in my office.””
“What?””
“An envelope. She instructed me not to release it unless you specifically asked about her death or somebody attempted to interfere with Noah's trust.””
I looked at the phone.
“Why didn't you tell me about this before?””
“Because I didn't know Vanessa would go this far. I had hoped the matter would remain closed.””
“I want that envelope.””
“Come to my office tomorrow morning. Bring Noah's identification documents, and I'll give you everything.””
“No. I need to know what's in it tonight.””
“Marcus, I can't responsibly summarize a document I haven't reviewed in years.””
“Then tell me the last thing Claire said to you.””
Daniel paused.
“She asked me to make sure Noah would never be forced to depend on the person who took his father away from him.””
My blood ran cold.
“What does that mean?””
“I don't know. At the time, I assumed she was talking about the possibility of you remarrying.””
I ended the call.
For several seconds, I sat motionless.
Noah took a small bite of his strawberry.
Then he looked at me.
“Dad?””
“Yeah, buddy?””
“Is my mom in trouble?””
I looked at the photograph of Claire on the kitchen shelf.
“No. Your mom isn't in trouble.””
“Then why is Vanessa angry when I talk about her?””
I didn't know how to answer.
I reached across the table and held his hand.
“Because sometimes adults make choices they shouldn't. That doesn't mean you did anything wrong.””
He nodded.
Then he asked a question that made me want to tear the entire house apart.
“Can I keep the picture of my real mom in my room?””
I looked at him.
“Of course.””
“Vanessa said it made her uncomfortable.””
I squeezed his hand.
“You can keep every picture you want.””
He looked down at his plate.
“Thank you, Dad.””
I knew I couldn't leave him alone with Vanessa that night.
I called my sister, Rebecca, and explained enough for her to understand that Noah needed somewhere safe.
She lived twenty minutes away.
She agreed to come get him.
When I told Noah, he looked frightened.
“Are you coming too?””
“Not yet. I have to take care of something.””
“Can I wait for you?””
“You'll be with Aunt Rebecca. I'll call you before bedtime.””
He considered that.
Then he nodded.
Rebecca arrived shortly after eight.
She hugged Noah, then looked at me.
“Marcus, what's happening?””
I glanced toward the staircase.
“I'm going to explain everything tomorrow.””
She studied my face.
“Does this involve Vanessa?””
“Yes.””
Rebecca's expression hardened.
“Then don't let her near him.””
I helped Noah pack a small bag.
His pajamas.
His toothbrush.
His favorite baseball cap.
And the photograph of Claire.
He tucked it into the front pocket of his backpack.
At the door, he turned around.
“Dad?””
I crouched.
“What is it?””
“Will you still come to my baseball game Saturday?””
I looked into his eyes.
“Nothing is stopping me from being there.””
He hugged me tightly.
Then Rebecca took him outside.
I watched their car disappear before returning to the kitchen.
Vanessa was standing at the top of the stairs.
“You sent him away?””
“To my sister's house.””
“You really are trying to turn everyone against me.””
“No. I'm trying to give him one night without being afraid.””
She came downstairs.
“Where is the phone?””
I looked at her.
“Why?””
“Because it belongs to me.””
“Then explain why you hid it in his bedroom.””
“I didn't hide it there.””
“Who did?””
She looked toward Brielle's empty chair.
For a moment, I thought she might blame her daughter again.
Instead, she said, “Claire gave it to him.””
I froze.
“What?””
“Your precious first wife. She gave it to Noah.””
I stared at her.
“Claire died when Noah was little.””
“Yes. And before that, she left things behind. Things she had no right to leave.””
I stepped closer.
“What things?””
Vanessa laughed without humor.
“Letters. Recordings. Documents. She wanted you to believe she was some kind of saint.””
“Stop talking about her like that.””
“Why? Because she's dead?””
I felt my jaw tighten.
Vanessa continued.
“You have no idea what she was like when nobody was watching.””
“You knew her?””
“I knew enough.””
“How?””
She looked away.
“Victor introduced us.””
The name struck me immediately.
“Victor Hale?””
Vanessa's eyes widened.
I had my answer.
“How long have you known him?””
“That's irrelevant.””
“Was he involved with Claire's estate?””
She crossed her arms.
“You need to stop asking questions.””
“Did he know about the trust before Claire died?””
Vanessa didn't answer.
I reached for my phone.
“I'm calling the police.””
She suddenly laughed.
“Go ahead.””
I stopped.
“You think I'm bluffing?””
“No,” she said.
“I think you're making exactly the mistake I expected.””
“What mistake?””
“Believing you can prove anything.””
I looked at the phone I'd taken from Noah's room.
“I have your recordings.””
“Edited recordings.””
“I have the financial documents.””
“Documents you don't understand.””
“I have the forged signature.””
Vanessa stepped closer.
“And you have a dead woman's voice telling you half a sentence.””
The air seemed to leave my lungs.
She knew about the recording.
I hadn't played it for her.
I hadn't mentioned the exact words.
I stared at her.
“How do you know what's on that phone?””
Vanessa's expression flickered.
Then she looked toward the living room.
I followed her eyes.
A small table stood beside the sofa. On it was an old family photograph.
Marcus.
Vanessa.
Brielle.
And Noah.
I remembered taking that photograph two years earlier.
But now I noticed something strange.
Claire's old silver voice recorder was sitting behind the frame.
The same recorder I'd seen in the photographs inside the prepaid phone.
I walked toward it.
Vanessa moved quickly.
“Don't touch that.””
I picked it up.
“Why?””
“It's broken.””
I pressed the power button.
A red light appeared.
It was working.
Vanessa's face drained of color.
I pressed play.
At first there was static.
Then Claire's voice came through.
“Victor, I know what you've been doing with the accounts. I have copies of everything.””
A man's voice answered.
“You need to be careful, Claire.””
“I am being careful. That's why I've documented every transfer.””
Another voice entered the recording.
Vanessa's.
“Just give us the files.””
Claire answered immediately.
“No. Not while Marcus still believes you.””
I stopped.
My wife stood completely still.
The recording continued.
Victor spoke again.
“Claire, you have no idea what you've put yourself into.””
Then came a sound.
A chair scraping.
A glass breaking.
And Claire's voice, suddenly frightened.
“Vanessa, you told me you were going to leave him alone.””
The recording ended.
I looked at my wife.
“Where was this recorded?””
She shook her head.
“I don't know.””
“Don't lie to me.””
“Marcus—”
“Were you there?””
She took a step backward.
Then the doorbell rang.
Both of us turned.
I opened the security camera feed on my phone.
A man stood on the porch.
Tall.
Gray-haired.
Wearing a dark suit.
I recognized him immediately from the photographs inside the prepaid phone.
Victor Hale.
He looked directly into the camera.
Then he lifted a folder.
My phone rang.
It was Daniel.
I answered.
“Marcus, do not let Victor inside.””
I stared at the man standing outside my front door.
“Why?””
Daniel's voice was almost a whisper.
“Because I just found Claire's original police statement. Victor was the last person documented as seeing her alive.””
I looked toward Vanessa.
She wasn't looking at me.
She was staring at the door.
And then, very quietly, she said:
“Marcus, whatever Daniel tells you, don't believe him. Victor isn't the person you should be afraid of.””
The doorbell rang again.
May you like
This time, Victor spoke through the security system.
“Marcus, I think it's time you learned who really signed your wife's death certificate.””
