Chapter 5 - THE FATHER WHO DIED
Daniel refused to believe it.
Then Mara pulled Henry Carter's death file.
Private plane crash over Lake Erie.
Two pilots killed.
One passenger listed as Henry.
Dental identification.
No DNA test.
Attending medical consultant for identification:
Marcus Hale.
"Marcus certified my father too."
Detective Ortiz traced the H.C. number.
Prepaid.
Activated in Toronto.
Last ping: Buffalo.
The trust restructured.
Claire became CFO.
Daniel became CEO.
They married fast.
Too fast, Claire said.
Daniel had ignored her.
He pulled old messages.
Claire: I don't trust how perfectly she fits what you need.
Daniel: You don't have to like her.
Claire: I don't. But this is bigger than that.
The memory burned.
Henry's crash insurance payout had never been claimed.
Eighty million dollars.
"Why wouldn't the estate claim it?"
"Because a death claim requires final beneficiary certification."
"Which Vanessa handled."
She had withdrawn the claim two days before payment.
Why leave eighty million?
Because someone did not want the insurer to investigate the death too closely.
Noah came into Daniel's office with Lily holding his hand.
Mara had moved Noah and Lily into a secure apartment after Daniel stopped trusting Vanessa's family.
"Is Aunt Claire dead?"
He crouched.
"I think so."
Noah did not.
He asked, "Did Vanessa know?"
"Yes."
"She said Aunt Claire was bad."
"When?"
"Lots."
"What else did she say?"
"She said if we asked about Aunt Claire, we'd end up gone too."
Daniel's face went numb.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
Noah's eyes filled.
"You were always mad when we said things about Vanessa."
Daniel had taught his children silence by refusing to believe them.
Then Lily whispered, "I saw Aunt Claire."
"When?"
Lily pointed toward the basement hallway.
"After she was dead."
"What do you mean?"
"Vanessa took me downstairs one night."
"Why?"
"She thought I was asleep."
"Aunt Claire was on a screen."
Daniel's pulse raced.
"Talking?"
May you like
"Sleeping."
Then she added, "And Grandpa was standing beside her."
