Chapter 4 - what claire recorded)
Daniel contacted the police.
Natalie refused to make a formal statement.
She claimed she had misunderstood her sister.
Eleanor did not believe her.
Neither did Detective Marcus Reed.
Reed had originally reviewed Claire's accident.
Tall, deliberate, and unwilling to speculate, he listened while Daniel described the missing drive and Natalie's comment.
Afterward, Reed asked one question.
Why did you wait two months to mention Claire's phone call.
Daniel looked ashamed.
Because I was with Vanessa when Claire called.
Reed nodded slowly.
That omission matters.
I know.
No, Mr. Whitmore. I do not think you do.
The detective requested Daniel's phone records.
He also asked for permission to search the house.
Daniel agreed.
Vanessa returned before the search began.
She walked through the front door carrying shopping bags.
Why are police here.
Daniel approached her.
Where were you.
Shopping.
For three hours.
Yes.
Where is the drive from my office.
Vanessa blinked.
What drive.
Do not.
Her expression sharpened.
Are you accusing me.
Natalie said you were looking for something Claire hid.
Vanessa glanced toward her sister.
Natalie lowered her eyes.
Vanessa smiled once.
Claire hid many things.
Eleanor stepped closer.
Like what.
Vanessa looked at her.
Like the fact that she wanted to leave Daniel.
Daniel stared.
That is a lie.
Is it.
Vanessa placed the bags on a table.
She met with a divorce attorney.
Eleanor looked at Daniel.
He appeared genuinely shocked.
Reed spoke.
When.
Three days before her death.
How do you know that, Eleanor asked.
Vanessa hesitated.
Claire told me.
You expect us to believe Claire confided in you.
She confronted me.
About Daniel.
Daniel shook his head.
You told me she did not know.
Vanessa's face changed.
Only for a second.
But it was enough.
You said Claire never confronted you, Daniel continued.
I was protecting you.
From what.
From guilt.
Reed watched them.
The detective requested Vanessa's phone.
She refused.
He explained that he could seek a warrant.
She smiled.
Then do that.
That evening she packed a suitcase.
Daniel did not stop her.
Before leaving, Vanessa crouched in front of Sophie.
The toddler recoiled.
It was subtle.
But Eleanor saw it.
So did Daniel.
Vanessa's hand stopped in midair.
Goodbye, sweetheart.
Sophie turned toward Eleanor instead.
Vanessa stood.
When she reached the door, Daniel asked a final question.
Did you love me.
Vanessa looked back.
Of course.
Then where is my drive.
Vanessa's face remained calm.
Ask your dead wife.
She left.
Two days later, Detective Reed called Eleanor.
Phone records confirmed that Claire called Daniel at 11:18 on the night of her death.
The call lasted forty seven seconds.
More importantly, Claire placed another call three minutes later.
To whom.
A private investigator.
Eleanor wrote down the name.
Thomas Bell.
She found Bell's office above a pharmacy on West Hanover Street.
He was sixty, broad shouldered, and immediately uncomfortable when Eleanor mentioned Claire.
Mrs. Whitmore, I cannot discuss a client's case.
Your client is dead.
Confidentiality does not automatically disappear.
Then answer one question. Was Claire afraid.
Bell studied her.
Yes.
Of Vanessa.
Not only Vanessa.
Eleanor felt cold.
Who else.
Bell opened a locked drawer.
I told Claire I would only release this if certain conditions were met.
What conditions.
Her death under questionable circumstances.
Eleanor said nothing.
Bell removed a sealed envelope.
The police already have a copy.
Inside were photographs.
Vanessa entering Daniel's office building.
Vanessa meeting an unknown man at a hotel.
Vanessa speaking to a Whitmore Development board member named Peter Sloan.
Eleanor recognized Sloan immediately.
He had worked with Richard for fifteen years.
Why was Claire investigating this.
Bell answered.
She believed someone was attempting to obtain control of the Whitmore trust by creating financial pressure around Daniel.
Vanessa.
Vanessa was involved.
But.
Bell tapped the photograph of Peter Sloan.
Claire thought Vanessa worked for someone.
Who.
She never identified them.
Then what did Claire record.
Bell looked at her.
A meeting.
Do you have the recording.
No.
Did you hear it.
Part of it.
What did it say.
Bell leaned back.
Three voices.
Claire.
Vanessa.
And a man.
Which man.
Bell shook his head.
The audio was distorted.
What did they discuss.
Bell's expression hardened.
Sophie.
Eleanor's fingers went numb.
What about Sophie.
Bell hesitated.
The man said something like, once the child is under Daniel's sole control, the trust becomes easier.
Eleanor stared.
What does that mean.
I do not know.
Claire interrupted. Then Vanessa said they did not need to hurt Sophie.
Eleanor stopped breathing.
What did the man say.
Bell looked at her.
He said, nobody said anything about hurting her. Children are useful alive.
Eleanor stood so abruptly the chair moved backward.
Where is the recording.
Claire took it.
You made no copy.
She asked me not to.
Why.
Because she believed someone had already accessed my office.
Bell opened another drawer.
But she gave me this.
He placed a small brass key on the desk.
What does it open.
I do not know.
Claire said if she died, you would.
Eleanor picked it up.
There was a tiny number engraved into the metal.
317.
She knew the number.
It belonged to a safe deposit box her husband Richard had opened more than twenty years earlier.
May you like
A box Eleanor thought had been closed after his death.
It had not.
