Chapter 7: The Witness Who Disappeared
William stared at the signature.
"Thomas Reed.""
Richard made a sound behind him.
Not quite a gasp.
William turned.
"You know that name.""
Richard's face had gone gray.
Marcus answered first.
"He used to work here.""
Daniel Reeves closed the folder.
"He was Claire's driver.""
William looked at the detective.
"My wife's driver died.""
"No," Daniel said.
"He disappeared.""
William frowned.
"I was told there was an accident.""
"There was.""
Daniel's eyes moved toward Richard.
"But Thomas wasn't in the car.""
The gallery seemed to shrink.
William remembered that night in fragments.
The phone ringing after midnight.
His father's voice.
Claire's car found wrecked off a wet road outside the city.
The doctors telling him there had been nothing they could do.
Charlotte asleep upstairs while William sat alone in a hospital corridor.
And Thomas Reed.
Claire's driver.
William had been told Thomas vanished after the accident because he was afraid of prosecution.
"Why didn't anyone tell me?""
Daniel gave him a tired look.
"I tried.""
William stared.
"What?""
"I came to Sterling House two days after Claire died.""
Richard stepped forward.
"Daniel—"
"No.""
William held up a hand.
"Let him speak.""
Daniel continued.
"I requested an interview with you. Your father told me you were medically sedated and incapable of answering questions.""
William looked at Richard.
"Was I?""
Richard's jaw tightened.
"You hadn't slept in three days.""
"That wasn't my question.""
Richard said nothing.
Daniel opened the folder again.
"Thomas contacted me privately forty-eight hours after the crash.""
Marcus suddenly spoke.
"That man was a liar.""
Daniel looked at him.
"You've said that before.""
William caught the phrasing.
"Before?""
Daniel nodded.
"Marcus came to the station.""
William turned slowly.
Marcus didn't move.
"You went to the police?""
Marcus adjusted his cuffs.
"On behalf of the family.""
"Nobody asked you to.""
"Your father did.""
William looked at Richard.
Richard closed his eyes.
"Yes.""
A bitter laugh escaped William.
"Of course.""
Charlotte shifted beside Emma.
The child was becoming tired. Emma crouched beside her.
"Do you want some water?""
Charlotte nodded.
Emma handed her a glass from the side table.
Across the room, Daniel removed another document.
"Thomas told me Claire had asked him to drive her somewhere that night.""
"Where?"" William asked.
"To meet me.""
William stared.
Daniel continued.
"She wanted to give me financial records and a statement.""
Marcus's expression hardened.
"Convenient.""
Daniel ignored him.
"Thomas said they realized another vehicle was following them.""
William's fingers tightened around Claire's letter.
"What vehicle?""
"A black sedan.""
Isabella suddenly looked at Marcus.
Only for a second.
But William saw it.
"So you know.""
Isabella shook her head.
"No.""
"You looked at him.""
"I didn't.""
Emma stood.
"You did.""
Isabella snapped toward her.
"Stay out of this.""
William stepped between them.
"Emma stays.""
The words surprised everyone, including Emma.
William looked at Daniel.
"What happened next?""
"Claire told Thomas not to drive to the station. She was afraid whoever was following them would know she had gone to police.""
"So where did they go?""
"Back toward Sterling House.""
Richard whispered, "God.""
William looked at him.
"What?""
Richard said nothing.
Daniel continued.
"According to Thomas, Claire received a phone call.""
"From who?""
"He didn't know. But afterward, she told him to stop the car.""
William's breathing slowed.
"Why?""
Daniel looked at Charlotte.
"Because whoever called threatened her daughter.""
William went rigid.
Charlotte was quietly drinking water, unaware.
"She was a baby.""
"Yes.""
"Who threatened her?""
"Thomas didn't hear the caller.""
William turned toward Isabella.
She shook her head.
"Don't look at me.""
"You were in this house.""
"So were fifty employees.""
"Where was Charlotte?""
"With the nanny.""
Margaret spoke from near the fireplace.
"No.""
Everyone turned.
She stepped forward.
"The nanny had been sent home.""
William stared.
"By who?""
Margaret looked at Richard.
Richard shook his head.
"Not me.""
Then Margaret looked at Isabella.
"Claire told me Isabella volunteered to watch Charlotte.""
William's expression emptied.
Isabella immediately protested.
"That proves nothing.""
"It proves you had access to my daughter.""
"I was helping!""
"While Claire was being followed?""
"I didn't know that!""
Daniel interrupted.
"Thomas said Claire became frantic after the call. She ordered him to return immediately.""
William looked down at the letters.
"And then?""
"They were six miles from Sterling House when the sedan appeared again.""
Daniel paused.
"Thomas said it pulled alongside them.""
Marcus took a step toward the door.
One of William's security guards blocked him.
Marcus stopped.
Daniel watched him.
"Thomas recognized the driver.""
William looked at Marcus.
"Was it him?""
Daniel shook his head.
"No.""
For the first time, Marcus breathed.
Then Daniel added:
"But Thomas recognized the passenger.""
Isabella's face went white.
William saw it.
"Who?""
Daniel reached into the folder.
"The report never contained the name. Thomas refused to tell me over the phone. He said he had proof and would meet me the next morning.""
"He never came.""
"No.""
"What happened?""
"His apartment had been emptied.""
Richard frowned.
"Then how did he send you this tonight?""
Daniel pulled out his phone.
"That's what I wanted to know.""
A message filled the screen.
William read it.
I HAVE BEEN WATCHING THE STERLING FOUNDATION LIVESTREAM. THE RABBIT MEANS CLAIRE'S BACKUP SURVIVED. DO NOT LET MARCUS OR ISABELLA LEAVE.
Below it was another message.
William read the final line aloud.
"Ask Isabella who was sitting beside her in the black sedan.""
Everyone turned.
Isabella backed away.
William's voice dropped.
"You were there.""
"No.""
"Thomas saw you.""
"He's lying.""
"Why?""
She looked toward Marcus.
William followed her gaze.
"Why are you looking at him?""
Marcus said quietly, "Isabella, don't.""
William turned.
"Don't what?""
Isabella's breathing became shallow.
May you like
Then she whispered the sentence Marcus clearly did not want her to say.
"Because Marcus wasn't driving.""
