Chapter 7 - THE WOMAN WHO WATCHED CLAIRE DIE
Margaret’s story began on the night Claire died.
She had returned secretly to Connecticut after discovering Richard was preparing to move assets from the Harrington Trust.
She intended to meet Claire.
But Richard learned she was back.
He followed her.
Margaret parked near Claire’s house.
Before she could enter, she saw Richard near Claire’s car.
Celeste stood with him.
“What were they doing?” Alvarez asked.
“I didn’t know.”
Margaret’s hands trembled.
“Not then.”
Claire left approximately an hour later.
Margaret followed.
So did Richard.
Rain began.
Claire’s car entered the coastal highway.
At the first sharp turn, the brake lights flashed repeatedly.
Then the vehicle accelerated.
Claire tried to control it.
She couldn’t.
The car went through the barrier.
Margaret stopped.
Richard stopped behind her.
Celeste was with him.
Margaret wanted to run toward Claire.
Richard grabbed her.
“He told me if I moved, Sophie would be next.”
Ethan closed his eyes.
Sophie had been three.
Richard forced Margaret into his vehicle.
Celeste drove Margaret’s car away.
By the time emergency responders arrived, Richard had already removed them from the scene.
“Why didn’t you call police later?”
“I tried.”
Margaret’s voice broke.
“Richard had documents claiming I suffered from dementia.”
He controlled her accounts.
Her medical records.
Her identity.
Whenever she surfaced, he threatened Sophie.
“I became a ghost.”
Ethan struggled to control his anger.
“You let my daughter live in a house with Celeste.”
Margaret looked at him.
“I didn’t know Celeste married you until six months ago.”
“How?”
“I saw a society photograph.”
“And then?”
“I contacted her.”
Ethan stared.
“You contacted Celeste?”
Margaret nodded.
“She told me Richard was controlling her too.”
Celeste lowered her eyes.
Alvarez turned.
“Was he?”
Celeste whispered,
“Yes.”
Ethan laughed bitterly.
“You married me because Richard controlled you?”
“No.”
Celeste looked at him.
“I approached you because he told me to.”
“At least that’s honest.”
“But I stayed—”
“Don’t.”
She stopped.
“You do not get to tell me you loved me after locking Sophie inside luggage.”
Celeste cried.
“I never meant for that to happen.”
“You bought the ticket.”
“Richard did.”
“You packed her passport.”
“He threatened me.”
“You locked the suitcase.”
Silence.
That silence answered him.
Alvarez leaned forward.
“Why did you bring Margaret back to the mansion?”
Celeste looked toward Claire’s room.
“Because there’s another recording.”
Ethan frowned.
“What recording?”
“Claire made it the day she died.”
“Where?”
“I don’t know.”
Margaret interrupted.
“I do.”
Everyone turned.
Margaret looked at Sophie’s photograph.
“The photograph isn’t only a photograph.”
Ethan felt his pulse jump.
“What does that mean?”
“The frame.”
Sophie carried Claire’s photograph everywhere.
It had been removed from its original frame years ago.
Or so Ethan thought.
Margaret explained that Claire had used a specialty archival frame with a hollow interior.
The photo Sophie carried had been cut from it.
“Where is the original frame?”
Ethan knew immediately.
The attic.
Boxes from Claire’s office.
He had never opened them.
Police searched.
The frame was found wrapped in newspaper.
Inside was a miniature memory card.
Claire’s final recording.
The video began with Claire sitting inside her car.
Rain struck the windshield.
She looked frightened.
But composed.
“If Ethan is watching this, I probably failed.”
Ethan covered his mouth.
Claire continued.
“Richard has been stealing for years.”
“He threatened my mother.”
“He threatened Sophie.”
Then she said:
“But Richard is not the person I am most afraid of.”
Ethan looked at Celeste.
Claire’s eyes filled the screen.
“There is someone above him.”
The room became silent.
“Someone inside Ethan’s company.”
Ethan froze.
His company?
Claire continued.
“Richard could never have moved this much money alone.”
A piece of paper appeared in Claire’s hand.
“I found the authorizations.”
She held it toward the camera.
Ethan recognized the signature.
His own chief financial officer.
May you like
Daniel Whitmore.
Ethan’s older brother.
