Chapter 4 - The Policy
Daniel returned home twenty minutes later.
Claire was waiting in the living room.
The pharmacy bottles were lined up on the coffee table.
Daniel stopped in the doorway.
His grocery bags slipped slightly in his hands.
Margaret stood behind him.
"She went through your office."
Daniel set the bags down.
"Claire."
"Sit."
Daniel stared at her.
It was the first time she had ever ordered him to do anything.
He sat.
Margaret remained standing.
Claire looked at Daniel.
"What is the medication?"
He rubbed his palms together.
"It's for anxiety."
"It is a sedative."
"Sometimes."
"Why do the refill dates line up with my accidents?"
Daniel's face changed.
Margaret interrupted.
"This is insane."
Claire ignored her.
"Why?"
Daniel shook his head.
"They don't."
Claire placed her phone on the table.
"I photographed the dates."
Daniel's shoulders sank.
Claire continued.
"Did you drug me?"
"No."
The answer came too quickly.
"Did your mother?"
"No."
"Did either of you put medication in my drinks?"
"No."
Margaret snapped, "Enough."
Claire finally looked at her.
"You mentioned an insurance policy."
Daniel turned sharply toward his mother.
Margaret said nothing.
Claire watched him.
"What policy?"
Daniel stood.
"Claire, stop."
"Sit down."
"I am not going to sit here while you accuse us of trying to hurt you."
"I haven't asked my next question yet."
Daniel stared.
Claire's voice became almost calm.
"How much am I insured for?"
Silence.
She knew then that a policy existed.
"How much?"
Daniel whispered, "Three hundred and seventy-five thousand dollars."
The number from the notebook.
Claire felt sick.
"When?"
"Three years ago."
"Why?"
"We both have policies."
"Do I have one on you?"
Daniel hesitated.
"No."
Claire laughed once.
It sounded strange in the quiet room.
"Of course I don't."
Daniel moved closer.
"It was financial planning."
"Who is the beneficiary?"
"I am."
"And if I die?"
"Claire."
"Answer me."
"I am."
She looked at Margaret.
"And your name?"
Margaret's face remained blank.
Daniel whispered, "Secondary beneficiary."
Claire sat back.
Every instinct told her to leave immediately.
But another instinct was stronger.
She needed evidence.
If she walked out accusing them of drugging her, Daniel would say she was traumatized.
Margaret would call her unstable.
They had spent years creating exactly that story.
Claire placed the bottles back on the table.
"I want copies of everything."
Daniel shook his head.
"You are not thinking clearly."
Claire almost smiled.
"You have said that so many times I stopped noticing."
"I'm serious."
"So am I."
Margaret approached.
"This family has supported you for years."
Claire looked at her.
"I earn more than Daniel."
Margaret's mouth tightened.
"Money isn't everything."
"Apparently it is worth three hundred and seventy-five thousand dollars."
Daniel swore under his breath.
Margaret glared at him.
Claire noticed.
The argument was no longer between Claire and them.
Something was dividing Daniel and his mother.
That interested her.
Daniel turned to Margaret.
"Why did you tell her?"
"She found the medications."
"You still didn't have to tell her."
Claire listened.
Neither of them realized what they had admitted.
She quietly activated the voice recorder on her phone.
Margaret lowered her voice.
"We wouldn't be in this situation if you had handled your wife."
Claire's heart stopped.
Daniel glanced toward Claire.
"Mom."
Margaret continued.
"You were supposed to keep her away from the finances."
"Stop talking."
"She was never supposed to see that drawer."
Claire's thumb hovered over the phone.
Daniel stood.
"Mom, shut up."
Margaret stared at him.
Then at Claire.
Understanding appeared.
"Give me the phone."
Claire stood.
"No."
Margaret lunged.
Daniel caught his mother around the shoulders.
"Stop."
Claire backed away.
Margaret struggled.
"She is recording us."
Claire reached the front door.
Daniel released his mother and followed.
"Claire, don't leave like this."
"How should I leave?"
"We can talk."
"We just did."
"Where are you going?"
Claire opened the door.
She looked at the man she had married nine years earlier.
"I don't know."
That was true.
And strangely, it felt like freedom.
Claire walked into the rain.
She had no suitcase.
No plan.
No safe address.
May you like
Only her phone, the hospital papers, three photographs of prescription bottles, and a recording Daniel desperately did not want anyone to hear.
It was enough to begin.
