Chapter 11 - THE WOMAN EVERYONE CALLED CRAZY
St. Catherine’s sat outside the city behind twelve-foot fencing.
Rebecca Sloan had been admitted seven months earlier as “Rachel Stone.”
Diagnosis: paranoid psychosis.
Hannah read the file twice.
Most of it was fabricated.
Claims of hallucinations.
Threats.
Medication theft.
Delusions involving organized crime.
Every accusation was designed to make the truth sound insane.
Nicholas sat outside the interview room.
“You go in.”
Hannah looked at him.
“Why me?”
“If she sees me, she may panic.”
“You think she remembers?”
“I think if I were her, I would.”
Hannah entered alone.
Rebecca sat near the window.
Thirty-two.
Thinner than her agency photo.
Dark hair cut short.
Hands trembling.
Hannah sat across from her.
“My name is Hannah Reed.”
Rebecca didn’t react.
“I replaced you at the Valenti estate.”
Rebecca’s eyes moved.
Hannah continued.
“I found your safe.”
Rebecca stared.
“The key?”
“Nicholas had it.”
A tear rolled down Rebecca’s cheek.
“He believed me?”
“Eventually.”
Rebecca laughed weakly.
“That sounds like him.”
Hannah leaned closer.
“I found your notebook.”
Rebecca’s expression changed to fear.
“Who else has it?”
“Daniel.”
Rebecca stood abruptly.
“He’s alive?”
“Yes.”
“Oh God.”
“What?”
Rebecca paced.
“You have to get Nicholas away from him.”
Hannah’s pulse rose.
“Daniel says Frank is behind everything.”
“Daniel lies.”
“Did he cause the crash?”
“No.”
“Did Frank?”
Rebecca looked toward the door.
“Frank paid for it.”
Hannah exhaled.
“Then Daniel was telling the truth.”
“About that.”
“What isn’t he telling us?”
Rebecca sat again.
Her voice dropped.
“Claire.”
“What about her?”
“She wasn’t meant to die in the crash.”
Hannah went still.
“Daniel said she was.”
“Daniel wants Nicholas to believe that because it makes Claire look like another victim.”
“Then who was the target?”
“Nicholas.”
Hannah’s skin chilled.
“That makes more sense.”
“Frank wanted control of the companies.”
“Why not kill Nicholas directly?”
“Because Nicholas’s will left controlling interest to Daniel if Daniel were ever found alive.”
Hannah stared.
Rebecca nodded.
“Frank needed Nicholas alive long enough to change the will.”
“Why would Nicholas do that?”
“He wouldn’t.”
“Then how?”
Rebecca looked at Hannah.
“Drug him. Confuse him. Convince him people are stealing. Convince him Daniel is dangerous. Then Claire presents new papers.”
Hannah remembered the engagement.
Claire’s devotion.
The marriage.
“What happens if Nicholas marries Claire?”
Rebecca’s voice shook.
“She becomes primary beneficiary.”
Hannah stood.
“So Claire is working with Frank.”
Rebecca’s eyes filled.
“No.”
“Then what?”
“Claire was working with Daniel.”
Hannah stopped.
Rebecca leaned forward.
“Claire and Daniel never stopped seeing each other.”
“That photo was twelve years old.”
“There are newer ones.”
Hannah’s stomach turned.
“Why would Daniel help her marry Nicholas?”
Rebecca whispered:
“Because once Nicholas dies, Claire inherits everything.”
“And Daniel?”
“She signs half over to him.”
Hannah stared through the glass.
Nicholas sat outside.
Daniel beside him.
Talking.
Almost like brothers again.
Hannah rushed toward the door.
Rebecca grabbed her wrist.
“There’s one more thing.”
“What?”
Rebecca looked terrified.
“The poisoning didn’t weaken Nicholas by accident.”
“What do you mean?”
“The doses were designed to make his spinal recovery worse.”
Hannah froze.
“Recovery?”
Rebecca nodded.
“His legs were never supposed to stay completely paralyzed.”
Hannah’s heart stopped.
“What are you saying?”
May you like
Rebecca whispered:
“Nicholas may still be able to walk.”
