Chapter 7 - The Night of the Car
Claire moved through the hidden passage.
She found another exit behind the old greenhouse.
Outside, rain fell heavily.
Evelyn waited beside a car.
Claire ran toward her.
"Where is Daniel?"
Evelyn looked confused.
"He wasn't with you?"
Claire shook her head.
"He made me leave."
Evelyn opened the passenger door.
"Get in."
They drove away.
For twenty minutes, neither spoke.
Finally Claire said, "My mother was there."
Evelyn gripped the steering wheel.
"Did she see you?"
"No."
"Good."
"Why?"
Evelyn hesitated.
"Because Daniel specifically warned me about her."
Claire looked out the window.
"She says she wants to protect me."
"Sometimes people protect the truth by destroying the person who might discover it."
Claire turned.
"What happened in the car?"
Evelyn looked at her.
"What?"
Claire showed her the notebook.
Evelyn's face changed.
"Where did you get that?"
"Daniel."
Evelyn pulled the car to the side of the road.
"You cannot show that to anyone."
"Why?"
"Because that sentence was never supposed to exist."
Claire waited.
Evelyn finally spoke.
"Eleven years ago, Daniel was driving away from the Parker estate."
"With whom?"
"Your grandfather."
Claire's eyes widened.
"My grandfather wasn't in the accident."
"No."
"Then what happened?"
Evelyn looked at the rain.
"They were followed."
"By whom?"
"Your father."
Claire's stomach tightened.
"Why?"
"Because Daniel had evidence."
"What evidence?"
Evelyn shook her head.
"I don't know."
Claire looked at the notebook.
"But my grandfather survived."
"Yes."
"Then why did everyone say Daniel died?"
Evelyn whispered, "Because someone needed a body."
Claire stared.
"What body?"
Evelyn didn't answer.
A phone rang.
Claire looked at the screen.
Unknown number.
She answered.
Daniel's voice came through.
"Don't trust Evelyn."
Claire looked at Evelyn.
Daniel continued.
"She isn't the fifth lawyer."
The call ended.
Evelyn stared at Claire.
"What did he say?"
Claire lied.
"He said nothing."
Evelyn looked at her for several seconds.
Then she started the car.
"You shouldn't lie to me."
Claire looked forward.
"Then don't give me reasons to."
They drove back toward the city.
At 7:15 AM, Claire received a message.
A photograph.
It showed Daniel tied to a chair.
Claire's blood ran cold.
Another message followed.
8:00 AM.
Parker Holdings.
Come alone.
Claire showed Evelyn.
Evelyn's face hardened.
"Someone is forcing him to reveal himself."
Claire shook her head.
"No."
"What?"
Claire looked at the photograph.
"Look at the clock behind him."
Evelyn zoomed in.
The clock showed 3:20.
Claire whispered.
"The photograph was taken hours ago."
Evelyn nodded.
"So?"
Claire's eyes narrowed.
"Then whoever sent this isn't where they want us to think."
She looked at the address.
Parker Holdings.
Then she smiled faintly.
"They want me to go there."
Evelyn asked, "And what are you going to do?"
May you like
Claire reached for her uniform jacket.
"I'm going somewhere else."
