Chapter 6: The Woman Who Knew Too Much
William stopped breathing for a moment.
"The night Claire died...""
His voice was barely audible.
"You said accident.""
Margaret nodded.
"That's what everyone was told.""
Emma looked between them.
The entire room had become a courtroom.
No judge.
No jury.
Just a family finally forced to face what they had buried.
William looked at Richard.
"Was Claire murdered?""
Richard immediately shook his head.
"No.""
Too quickly.
Margaret noticed.
So did William.
Richard lowered his voice.
"I mean... I don't know.""
That answer hurt more.
William stepped back.
"My wife died, and nobody knows how?""
Richard looked broken.
"We knew what the police concluded.""
"And what did Claire believe?""
Margaret answered.
"She believed someone wanted her silent.""
Isabella laughed suddenly.
A sharp, nervous sound.
"You all hear yourselves?""
Everyone looked at her.
"You are believing a woman who disappeared for years and a dead woman who wrote accusations.""
William stared.
"No.""
He held up the letter.
"I'm believing evidence.""
Isabella's face tightened.
"You don't understand what Claire was doing.""
"Then explain.""
She looked around.
For the first time, she seemed trapped.
"She was going to ruin your family.""
William's eyes narrowed.
"Again.""
"She wanted to expose everything.""
"What everything?""
Isabella stayed silent.
William took one step closer.
"Money?""
Silence.
"Marcus?""
Silence.
"Your involvement?""
Isabella's eyes moved.
That was enough.
Marcus stepped between them.
"William, stop.""
William looked at him.
"No.""
His voice was cold.
"You stop.""
Marcus lowered his voice.
"You don't know what you're opening.""
William almost smiled.
"My daughter was hidden behind a wall.""
He looked around the room.
"I think the wall is already open.""
At that moment, one of the security guards entered.
"Mr. Sterling.""
William turned.
"There is someone here to see you.""
"Who?""
The guard hesitated.
"A detective.""
Richard looked alarmed.
"Why?""
The guard looked at William.
"He said he was contacted regarding Claire Sterling's death.""
The room froze.
William looked toward Margaret.
"You called him?""
Margaret shook her head.
"No.""
Everyone slowly turned toward Marcus.
Because his face had changed.
He looked terrified.
Not angry.
Not defensive.
Terrified.
William noticed.
"Why are you afraid?""
Marcus said nothing.
The detective entered the gallery.
Older man.
Gray suit.
A folder in his hand.
He looked at William.
"Mr. Sterling.""
William stepped forward.
"Who are you?""
The detective opened the folder.
"My name is Daniel Reeves.""
He looked at the letters scattered across the floor.
Then at Charlotte.
Then at Marcus.
"I was the original investigator assigned to Claire Sterling's death.""
William went still.
"Original?""
Daniel nodded.
"Before the case was closed.""
"And why are you here now?""
The detective looked directly at Marcus.
"Because twenty minutes ago, I received a photograph of a document that proved my investigation was deliberately interrupted.""
Marcus whispered:
"No.""
Daniel opened the folder.
Inside was a copy of a report.
William looked at the first page.
His face changed.
"Who sent you this?""
Daniel didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he looked at Charlotte.
"The person who sent it said the child finally found the letters.""
William's eyes narrowed.
"Who?""
Daniel slowly turned the page.
A handwritten note was attached.
William read the signature.
Then he stopped.
Because it wasn't Claire.
It wasn't Margaret.
It wasn't anyone in the room.
It was written by someone everyone believed had been gone for years.
May you like
And beneath the signature were four words:
"I know what happened.""
