Chapter 6 - The Woman in the Photograph
Claire returned to the cabin.
She studied the woman in the photograph.
There was something familiar about her.
She enlarged the image.
The woman stood behind Mike, holding a folder.
On her wrist was a bracelet.
Claire recognized it.
She had seen it at Harold's company.
The woman was Elena Ward.
A former financial auditor.
She had disappeared eighteen months earlier.
Claire searched her name.
Nothing.
Then she found an old article.
Elena Ward had resigned from Mercer Holdings after discovering irregularities in company accounts.
Three weeks later, she vanished.
Claire contacted an old journalist who had written about the case.
The journalist refused to speak by phone.
He agreed to meet in person.
They met in a quiet café.
He handed Claire a folder.
“Your husband wasn't investigating Harold alone.”
Claire opened it.
Inside were photographs.
Mike.
Elena.
Nathan.
And another man.
The man looked remarkably similar to Mike.
But older.
Claire stared.
“Who is this?”
The journalist leaned forward.
“That's the problem.”
He pointed to the photograph.
“We don't know.”
Claire turned the picture over.
Nothing.
The journalist lowered his voice.
“Mike Bennett had a brother.”
Claire froze.
“No.”
“Half-brother.”
“Mike never told me.”
“He wasn't supposed to.”
Claire stared at him.
“What was his name?”
The journalist shook his head.
“That's what I couldn't verify.”
Before Claire could ask more, the café door opened.
Harold walked inside.
He looked directly at her.
The journalist stood.
Harold smiled.
“Claire.”
She backed away.
Harold didn't approach.
Instead, he placed an envelope on the table.
“You've been digging through things you don't understand.”
Claire opened the envelope.
Inside was a photograph of Mia.
Taken that morning.
Outside Claire's house.
Claire's blood turned cold.
Harold whispered.
“You want answers?”
He leaned closer.
“Then stop asking where Mike is.”
Claire stared at him.
“What should I ask?”
May you like
Harold smiled.
“Ask why your husband never told you about his brother.”
