Chapter 8 - Claire Did Not Die by Accident
Ethan’s face went blank.
Maya watched the grief move through him all over again.
“Say that again.”
Vanessa smiled at the camera.
“Claire was always too curious.”
“You killed her?”
“I didn’t say that.”
“You just said—”
“I said she discovered something.”
Maya leaned toward the laptop.
“What did she discover?”
Vanessa’s expression changed when she saw Maya.
“There she is.”
Maya felt cold.
“The loyal maid.”
“Housekeeper.”
“Whatever makes you feel important.”
“Where’s Noah?”
Vanessa smiled.
“You really do love that little boy.”
“Yes.”
“More than his father trusted you.”
Ethan closed his eyes.
Maya ignored the hit.
“Claire knew about Greenway Consulting.”
Vanessa stopped smiling.
Maya had guessed.
But Vanessa’s face confirmed it.
“That’s it, isn’t it?”
Ethan looked at Maya.
“What was Greenway?”
She pointed toward the bank statement.
“Money leaving your company.”
Brooks opened the laptop’s browser history.
“Greenway received consulting payments from Cole Biotech.”
Ethan shook his head.
“I’ve never approved that company.”
“Someone did.”
“Who?”
Brooks turned the screen.
Authorization records appeared.
Claire Cole.
Ethan stared.
“No.”
Maya understood.
“They forged Claire’s approval.”
Brooks nodded.
“Millions of dollars.”
Vanessa’s voice came through the speakers.
“Very good.”
Ethan leaned toward the camera.
“You were stealing from me.”
“Your board was stealing from you.”
“With you.”
Vanessa shrugged.
“I saw an opportunity.”
“And Claire?”
“She found the payments.”
Ethan’s fists tightened.
“What happened the night she died?”
Vanessa’s smile disappeared.
“You should ask Alex.”
The screen went dark.
Randall cursed.
“We lost the feed.”
Maya looked toward Rachel, who was slowly sitting up.
“Did Alex drive the car that night?”
Ethan shook his head.
“No. Claire was alone.”
Maya remembered something.
“No.”
Everyone looked at her.
“I was there when she left.”
Ethan frowned.
“She drove away herself.”
“Yes.”
“But Alex was outside.”
Brooks stepped closer.
“You never told anyone?”
“I didn’t know it mattered.”
Maya saw it again.
Rain against the windows.
Claire holding an umbrella.
Alex standing near the garage.
Vanessa sitting in her car across the road.
Maya’s heartbeat quickened.
“Claire argued with Alex.”
“About what?”
“I couldn’t hear.”
“Anything else?”
Maya closed her eyes.
Then remembered.
“Alex handed Claire something.”
“What?”
“A small black box.”
Brooks frowned.
“A recorder?”
“Maybe.”
Rachel suddenly whispered from the floor.
“Wait.”
Ethan knelt beside her.
“What?”
Rachel’s eyes filled with fear.
“Before they drugged me, Vanessa and Alex were arguing.”
“What did they say?”
May you like
Rachel swallowed.
“Alex told her, ‘I already killed one person for you. I’m not hurting the baby.’”
