Chapter 10 - sabrina’s first truth
Harper’s bracelet was processed for evidence.
Margaret’s fingerprints were found on the crescent charm.
So were Sabrina’s.
A third set had no match.
The message threatening the “real Claire Morgan” created a new possibility.
Someone had been using Claire’s identity for more than a decade.
And that person might still be alive.
Detective Ortiz wanted Claire and Harper placed in protective custody.
Claire agreed on one condition.
She wanted to speak with Sabrina first.
Sabrina had been moved to an interview room at the central station. She sat behind a metal table wearing the same pink birthday dress.
Without the carefully arranged hair and makeup, she looked younger.
And frightened.
Claire entered with Ortiz.
Sabrina stared at her.
“How is Harper?”
“Awake.”
Relief crossed Sabrina’s face before she hid it.
Claire sat down.
“Did you expect her to wake up?”
“I didn’t know she would collapse.”
“You filled her cup.”
“Margaret told me the purple mixture was harmless.”
“You removed the warning label from the dispenser.”
Sabrina looked away.
“You took Harper’s bracelet.”
“I was ordered to.”
“By Margaret?”
Silence.
Claire leaned closer.
“My daughter was unconscious on the floor while you blamed me. Stop protecting the people who put you there.”
Sabrina’s eyes filled with tears.
“You think I have a choice?”
“Everyone has a choice.”
“You don’t know Mercer.”
“I know enough.”
“No, you don’t.”
Sabrina’s voice rose.
“He controls the company’s security division. He controls private investigators, judges, doctors, and half the people Margaret calls friends. He has recordings of everyone.”
“Why would Margaret obey him?”
“Because he knows what happened to Andrew.”
Claire went still.
“Andrew died in a car accident.”
Sabrina laughed bitterly.
“That’s the family version.”
“What is the truth?”
“I don’t know all of it. I was sixteen.”
“Then tell me what you know.”
Sabrina stared at the mirrored observation window.
“The night Andrew died, he came to the estate. He was fighting with Margaret and Mercer. I heard Andrew say he had moved the evidence and changed the trust.”
“What evidence?”
“Records from Vale Life Sciences.”
Claire nodded.
“What happened next?”
“They left together.”
“Who?”
“Andrew and Mercer.”
“Margaret?”
“She stayed behind.”
Sabrina pressed her palms against the table.
“Two hours later, Mercer returned alone. He had blood on his shirt.”
Claire’s stomach tightened.
“Did you tell the police?”
“Margaret told me Andrew’s car had crashed. She said Mercer tried to save him.”
“Did you believe her?”
“I wanted to.”
Claire took a breath.
“What did Margaret ask you to do at the party?”
“Take Harper’s bracelet. Put the purple drink in her cup. Replace the emergency medicine with an empty container.”
Ortiz’s voice hardened.
“That is not harmless.”
“I know.”
“You knew Harper could become ill.”
“Margaret said Nolan would be there. She said Harper would receive help immediately.”
Claire fought to remain seated.
“This was supposed to make me look negligent.”
Sabrina nodded.
“The trust has a custody provision. If Harper’s legal guardian is found dangerously careless, temporary control transfers to the nearest approved Vale relative.”
“Margaret.”
“Yes.”
“And control of Andrew’s shares follows the guardian.”
“Yes.”
“Why today?”
“Because there is a board vote tomorrow.”
“What vote?”
“To sell Vale Life Sciences.”
“Who is buying it?”
Sabrina looked toward the observation mirror.
“A private investment group represented by Daniel Mercer.”
Ortiz wrote quickly.
Claire asked, “Who handed you the bracelet in the kitchen?”
Sabrina swallowed.
“Margaret.”
“The footage shows only part of the person.”
“It was her.”
“Why did she say someone forced her to plan it?”
Sabrina’s expression changed.
“Because someone did.”
“Mercer?”
“No.”
Claire waited.
Sabrina lowered her voice.
“Margaret is afraid of a woman named Evelyn Cross.”
“Who is she?”
“I don’t know. I have only heard the name twice.”
“Was she the woman disguised as me at the bank?”
Sabrina’s eyes widened.
“You found the photograph.”
“You know about it.”
“Margaret keeps a copy in her safe.”
“Why?”
“Because she says Evelyn stole your life before you ever met Andrew.”
Claire’s thoughts moved back to the message.
Bring the child, or the real Claire Morgan dies.
“What does Evelyn want with Harper?”
Sabrina shook her head.
“I don’t know.”
Then she added one final sentence.
“But the purple cup was never supposed to make Harper sick.”
Claire stared at her.
“What was it supposed to do?”
May you like
Sabrina looked terrified.
“It was supposed to test whether she was really Andrew’s daughter.”
