Chapter 5 - Brenda's Red Dress
Police found Brenda's red dress in the guest house.
Nothing else.
No blood.
No broken window.
No obvious struggle.
Her phone remained on the bedside table.
Sarah learned this from Detective Laura Hayes, who called after Mark reported Brenda missing.
"Mrs. Bennett, when did you last see Ms. Collins?"
"Yesterday afternoon."
"Was she upset?"
"She'd just been caught sleeping with my husband."
A pause.
"I see."
"I doubt you do."
Hayes asked Sarah to come to the station.
Rebecca accompanied her.
Mark was already there.
When Sarah entered the hallway, he stood.
"You took the folder."
Rebecca stepped between them.
"My client isn't discussing anything with you."
Mark ignored her.
"Sarah, where are the documents?"
Sarah looked at him.
"Brenda is missing and you're asking about paperwork?"
"They're connected."
"How?"
Mark glanced toward Detective Hayes.
"Not here."
Sarah laughed bitterly.
"You don't control where conversations happen anymore."
Hayes opened the interview-room door.
"Mr. Bennett, sit down."
For the next hour, Sarah explained everything.
The affair.
The guest house.
The forged documents.
The unknown messages.
Daniel Mercer.
Victor Hale.
Detective Hayes stopped writing when she heard Hale's name.
"Repeat that."
"Victor Hale."
Hayes exchanged a glance with another detective.
Sarah noticed.
"You know the name."
Hayes closed her notebook.
"I can't discuss an active investigation."
"Then there is one."
Rebecca touched Sarah's arm.
"Don't push."
Outside the station, Mark followed them.
"Sarah."
Rebecca turned.
"One more step and I'll request a protective order."
Mark stopped.
He looked genuinely frightened.
"Sarah, please."
She had almost never heard him say please.
"What?"
"Brenda wasn't involved at first."
Sarah stared at him.
"At first?"
"Her father introduced me to people."
"Richard Collins."
Mark nodded.
"What people?"
"I can't tell you."
"Then stop talking."
She turned.
"Victor Hale."
Sarah stopped.
Mark lowered his voice.
"He's alive."
"I know."
"No, you don't understand."
"Then make me understand."
Mark looked around the parking lot.
"He doesn't exist anymore. Victor Hale died. The man who's alive now has different names, different companies, different passports."
"And you worked for him?"
Mark's silence answered.
Sarah felt sick.
"The houses?"
"Money."
"The fires?"
Mark looked away.
"The insurance?"
"Sarah."
"Did you burn those houses?"
"No."
"Did you know someone was doing it?"
He did not answer.
Sarah slapped him.
The sound cracked through the parking structure.
"You used my name."
Mark touched his cheek.
"For protection."
"Whose?"
"Ours."
"You mean yours."
Mark suddenly grabbed her shoulders.
Rebecca shouted.
Security moved toward them.
Mark released Sarah immediately.
But he leaned close enough to whisper.
"Brenda knew where Hale kept the original ledger."
Sarah stared at him.
"What ledger?"
"The one that can destroy everyone."
May you like
He stepped backward.
"And yesterday, before she disappeared, she stole it."
