Chapter 5 - The Night of the Anniversary
Lucy did not contact the police.
She considered it.
She even drove toward the nearest station before remembering that she did not know whom she could trust.
If Aaron Pike had helped conceal Martin for twelve years, the conspiracy extended beyond Chloe. Aaron handled Hale Meridian’s legal affairs, knew local officials, and had represented the family during the death declaration.
He had prepared the documents that made Chloe temporary controller of the company.
He had also been best man at Lucy and Dylan’s wedding.
Lucy copied every photograph and sent the files to a secure account. Then she placed the physical documents inside the envelope with Martin’s picture and the hospital receipt.
At five in the afternoon, Chloe called.
“Dylan invited me to dinner.”
Lucy kept her voice calm. “It is our anniversary.”
“I know. He believes we should resolve the financial situation as a family.”
“You are not part of my marriage.”
“I became part of it when you stole from my brother.”
Lucy looked at the black vehicle parked across the street from the pharmacy where she had stopped.
“Did you send someone to follow me?”
Chloe laughed softly. “You are becoming dramatic.”
“Did Aaron help you hide Martin?”
The laughter ended.
For several seconds, Chloe said nothing.
Then she whispered, “You should have left him where you found him.”
Lucy’s entire body went still.
“So you admit he’s alive.”
“I admit nothing.”
“Dylan will see the records tonight.”
“Will he?”
The call ended.
The black vehicle pulled away.
Lucy arrived at the apartment shortly before seven.
The dining room had been arranged exactly as it had been on their first anniversary. White flowers. Tall candles. Crystal glasses. The chocolate cake Dylan ordered every year from the same small bakery.
For one moment, the familiar details made Lucy ache for the life they had shared before secrecy entered it.
Dylan stood beside the table in a dark suit.
His expression softened when he saw her.
“You came.”
“I said I would.”
Chloe was near the balcony door, wearing a black dress and the cream coat she had worn to St. Alder hanging behind her.
Lucy placed her handbag on a chair.
“Why is she here?”
Dylan answered carefully. “Because the company account may be involved.”
“No. She is here because she wants to control the conversation.”
Chloe poured wine into her glass. “Then control it yourself. Explain the eight thousand dollars.”
Lucy looked at Dylan.
“I will explain everything to you privately.”
“There have been too many private explanations that never happened,” he said.
“Do you trust your sister more than your wife?”
“That is not what this is.”
“It is exactly what this is.”
Dylan lowered his voice. “Show me where the money went.”
Lucy reached into her handbag.
Before she could remove the envelope, the apartment lights flickered.
The security panel near the entrance sounded once.
Chloe glanced toward it.
Lucy noticed.
“What did you do?” she asked.
“Nothing.”
Dylan checked the panel. “The balcony sensor is reporting a fault.”
Chloe moved toward the glass door. “The storm may have damaged it.”
Lucy saw a reflection in the window.
A man stood in the hallway outside the apartment.
Aaron Pike.
He was partially hidden beyond the frosted side panel near the entrance.
Lucy understood immediately.
The documents were not safe inside.
She took the envelope and moved toward the balcony.
Dylan followed. “Where are you going?”
“I need air.”
“In freezing rain?”
“I need one minute.”
Lucy opened the door and stepped outside.
She intended to move along the balcony to the emergency stairwell, where she could hide the envelope in the maintenance cabinet and call Dr. Voss.
Behind her, the lock clicked.
Lucy turned.
Chloe’s hand rested near the door handle.
Dylan had gone toward the entrance after the security panel sounded again.
Through the glass, Lucy saw Aaron slip inside.
He spoke briefly to Chloe and moved toward the hallway leading to Dylan’s office.
Lucy struck the glass with her palm.
Dylan turned.
Aaron disappeared from view.
“What is he doing here?” Lucy shouted.
The storm swallowed her words.
Dylan approached the door, but Chloe stepped between them.
“She has the company documents,” Chloe said.
“What documents?”
“The ones she stole.”
Lucy shook her head.
Dylan placed his palm against the glass.
“Open the door,” Lucy said.
He reached for the lock.
Chloe caught his wrist.
“Ask her where the money went first.”
Dylan looked through the glass at his wife.
“Lucy, tell me.”
“I never stole from you.”
“Then explain the missing eight thousand.”
“The truth is inside this envelope.”
She removed her wedding ring and placed it beside the folded documents.
Dylan’s face changed when he saw the ring.
“Lucy, don’t.”
But Lucy had already realized something worse.
Aaron had not come only for the documents.
Through the window behind Dylan, she saw him emerge from the office holding Dylan’s laptop.
She pointed.
Dylan turned too late.
Aaron moved toward the entrance.
Lucy stepped backward from the glass and disappeared around the privacy wall, entering the emergency stairwell through the maintenance gate.
By the time Dylan unlocked the door, she was gone.
He opened the envelope.
He saw his father’s photograph.
He read the hospital receipt.
Then he looked at Chloe and said the words she had feared for twelve years.
“You knew he was still alive.”
Dylan’s phone began ringing.
St. Alder Recovery Center was on the other end.
Before the call ended, Chloe reached for her coat.
Dylan blocked her path.
“You are not leaving.”
Chloe’s face became strangely calm.
“You have no idea what you just opened.”
“Where is Aaron?”
“You should be asking where your wife went.”
“I am asking about my father.”
“Your father destroyed this family long before the boat.”
May you like
“He is alive.”
“Yes,” Chloe said. “And you may soon wish he wasn’t.”
