Chapter 18 - The Signature
The payment order was twenty-two years old.
$40,000 to a company called Halcyon Recovery.
Purpose: VEHICLE REMEDIATION.
Authorized by Wade Mercer.
Approved by Thomas Cole.
And countersigned by Ruth Cole.
Ethan stopped breathing.
"No."
Claire sat down.
"Mom?"
Ruth was brought to the station under protective guard.
When Vega placed the document in front of her, she didn't deny the signature.
"I signed hundreds of company papers for Thomas."
"This one paid the man who cut Rachel's brake line," Lily said.
Ruth began to shake.
"I didn't know."
Ethan slammed his palm on the table.
"You always didn't know."
Ruth flinched.
"I knew enough to be afraid."
Claire's voice went flat.
"You let me disappear."
"I thought you were dead."
"You never looked."
Ruth broke.
She admitted Thomas had brought papers home that night and forced her to sign them. Later, she discovered what Halcyon had done.
She hid Rachel's tape because she believed exposing Thomas would send Ethan into danger and bring Mercer after Claire.
Lily wanted to hate her.
Part of her did.
Then Ruth said something unexpected.
"There was one more person in the room when I signed."
Vega leaned forward.
"Who?"
"Grant. Thomas's brother."
Daniel frowned.
"Grant disappeared before the murder."
Ruth shook her head.
"No. He helped me copy the payment order. He said if anything happened to Rachel, he would take it to the state police."
"Did he?"
Ruth looked toward the evidence room.
"I don't know. Thomas said Grant died."
Vega checked the recovered files.
Then she found a recent bank transfer.
May you like
Recipient: GRANT COLE.
Date: three days ago.
