Chapter 5 - The Envelope Nobody Saw
The funeral home smelled of lilies and furniture polish. Daniel had stood there three days earlier choosing a casket. Now he stood there with Reyes, Nadia, and a list of questions he wished he'd asked while Helen was alive.
Darlene Moore, the funeral director, looked miserable. "Mallory said she was handling family papers. She told my assistant the envelope was a billing mistake."
"Did you give it to her?" Daniel asked.
"No. Your mother wrote CLAIRE ONLY across the back in large letters. I couldn't ignore that."
Darlene opened a locked drawer and removed an ordinary cream envelope. Inside was a letter in Helen's careful handwriting and a list of twelve names.
Claire, I am sorry to put this on you. I tried to fix it quietly. The money meant for rent and heat went somewhere else. I asked Mallory for the original receipts. She told me I was confused. I am not confused. Please protect the people on this list. They trusted me.
Below the message was a single line: ASK MRS. PRICE WHY HER HUSBAND IS STILL COLLECTING CHECKS.
Daniel read it again. "This is about charity money?"
"Maybe a lot of it," Nadia said. "But no court will act on a note alone. We need records, witnesses, and a clear chain of custody."
Reyes photographed the pages and logged where they'd come from. She asked Darlene to preserve the funeral home's visitor records.
Outside, Daniel saw a dark SUV idling across the street. Its driver looked away too quickly when Reyes glanced toward him. He drove off before anyone reached the curb.
Grace called from the hospital. "Claire's opening her eyes. She's trying to say something."
Daniel hurried back, leaving the detective with the envelope.
When he stepped into Claire's room, she was awake enough to squeeze his hand. He leaned close.
"I'm here. Emma's okay."
Claire's lips moved. He bent lower.
May you like
"Mallory wasn't trying to take the cross," she whispered. "She was trying to stop me from opening the envelope."
Then she gripped his wrist and added, "Daniel, your mother knew who was helping her."
