Chapter 9 - Derek's Confession
Derek led them through a hidden passage beneath the house.
Alex kept his hand on Lily's shoulder.
“Where are we going?”
“To a place Clara prepared.”
“Why should I trust you?”
“You shouldn't.”
Alex stopped.
Derek turned.
“I lied to you.”
“I know.”
“I lied because Clara told me to.”
Alex stared.
“What did she tell you?”
“She said if you ever came home and everyone told you she was dead, you had to believe them.”
Alex frowned.
“That makes no sense.”
“It wasn't about believing them.”
Derek took a breath.
“It was about finding out who would lie first.”
Alex stared at him.
Derek continued.
“Clara knew someone inside the family was working with Victor.”
“Who?”
“I don't know.”
“You expect me to believe that?”
“I saw the evidence.”
“What evidence?”
Derek reached into his coat.
He handed Alex a small envelope.
Inside was a photograph.
Clara was standing beside a hospital bed.
Arthur was in the bed.
But Arthur looked younger.
And standing beside him was a woman Alex had never seen.
Derek said, “That's Clara's mother.”
Alex looked up.
“She's dead.”
“She disappeared.”
“What?”
“That's what Clara believed.”
Alex stared at the photograph.
Derek continued.
“Clara spent years trying to find her.”
“Why?”
“Because she believed your father knew what happened.”
Alex felt sick.
“My father?”
Derek nodded.
“Your father had a private network of accounts, companies and properties. Clara discovered that some of them were being used to move money.”
“The eleven million.”
“Yes.”
“Where did it come from?”
Derek hesitated.
“That's what Clara was trying to find.”
They reached an underground room.
A single lamp illuminated the table.
A woman sat there.
Her back was turned.
Alex stopped.
Derek whispered.
“Clara.”
The woman slowly stood.
Alex forgot how to breathe.
She turned.
It wasn't Clara.
It was Emily.
The woman whose body had been placed inside the coffin.
She looked terrified.
Alex stared.
“How are you alive?”
Emily's eyes filled with tears.
“Because they wanted everyone to think I was Clara.”
Alex felt the room spin.
“Then where is my wife?”
Emily looked toward the locked door.
“She trusted the wrong person.”
“Who?”
Emily didn't answer.
A sound came from outside.
Three knocks.
Emily's face changed.
“It's too late.”
Alex moved toward the door.
“Who is it?”
A voice answered.
His father's voice.
“Alex.”
Alex froze.
Arthur was upstairs.
Or so he thought.
May you like
The voice spoke again.
“Open the door.”
