Chapter 7: The Woman Who Had Been Dead for Seven Years
"Put the gun down, Vanessa.""
Daniel's voice was weak, but there was something in it that made her pause.
She laughed.
"Still giving orders, Daniel? Even after everything I've done for you?""
I stood beside him, barely breathing.
The woman who had introduced herself as Claire was pointing a gun at my chest. The photograph on the workbench showed a young woman in a hospital bed. According to Vanessa, that woman was the real Claire Bennett.
But if that was true, who had been standing beside me for the last several hours?
And why had she gone to such extraordinary lengths to convince me she was Daniel's first wife?
"Vanessa," I said carefully.
"Why are you pretending to be Claire?""
She looked at me.
"Because people believe dead women more easily than living ones.""
Daniel closed his eyes.
"Emily, don't listen to her.""
Vanessa smiled.
"Your husband has always been terrible at explaining things.""
She walked toward the workbench, never lowering the weapon.
"Seven years ago, Claire survived the car accident. She spent six months in a private rehabilitation facility. Daniel visited her twice. Then he disappeared.""
"That's not true," Daniel whispered.
Vanessa turned toward him.
"Isn't it?""
She picked up the photograph.
"Claire was conscious when I first met her. She couldn't speak properly, but she understood everything. She knew Richard had arranged the accident.
She knew Dr. Hale had altered her medical records. And she knew Daniel had signed the documents transferring her company shares.""
I looked at Daniel.
"What company shares?""
He struggled to sit upright.
"Claire inherited a controlling interest in her father's construction business. Richard wanted it.""
Vanessa nodded.
"Exactly. And Daniel helped him get it.""
"Why?"" I asked.
Daniel looked down.
"Because Richard threatened Claire's life.""
Vanessa laughed.
"Such a convenient excuse.""
Daniel's face tightened.
"I was twenty-nine. I thought I could negotiate with him. I thought if I signed the transfer documents, Richard would leave Claire alone.""
"And instead," Vanessa said, "he made sure she disappeared.""
She placed the photograph on the table.
"Richard didn't kill Claire. He kept her alive because he needed her signature on additional documents. She was moved between private medical facilities under false names.""
I felt sick.
"And you helped him?""
Vanessa didn't answer.
Daniel did.
"Vanessa was Richard's assistant. She arranged the transfers.""
"That's right," Vanessa said proudly.
"I handled the paperwork, the payments, the doctors, everything. I was very good at my job.""
"Then why are you pretending to be Claire?"" I asked.
Her expression changed.
"Because I wanted Daniel to trust me again.""
Daniel stared at her.
"You told me you were helping me expose Richard.""
"I was.""
"Until when?""
"Until you decided to bring your wife into it.""
She pointed the gun toward me again.
"You see, Emily, Daniel's greatest weakness has always been his need to save women.""
I stepped in front of him.
"Don't touch him.""
Vanessa smiled.
"That's sweet.""
Then she reached into her coat and pulled out another photograph.
It showed me standing outside the hospital where Margaret had been admitted.
The picture had been taken that afternoon.
"You've been watched," she said.
"Every move you've made.""
Daniel suddenly grabbed my wrist.
"Emily, listen to me. There's a key inside my jacket.""
I looked at him.
"What?""
"Inside pocket. Take it.""
Vanessa raised her gun.
"Don't.""
Daniel coughed violently.
For a moment, his entire body shook.
I used the distraction to reach into his jacket.
My fingers found a small metal key.
Vanessa stepped closer.
"Give it to me.""
Daniel suddenly knocked the workbench with his elbow.
A heavy toolbox crashed to the floor.
Vanessa turned instinctively.
I grabbed Daniel's hand.
We stumbled toward the back door.
A gunshot exploded behind us.
The bullet struck the wooden frame.
I screamed.
Daniel pushed me through the doorway.
"Run!""
We crossed the narrow yard toward the farmhouse.
Another shot rang out.
Then a car engine started.
Vanessa was coming after us.
Daniel led me toward an old utility shed.
Inside, he pulled a wooden panel away from the wall.
Behind it was a small metal box.
He inserted the key.
The lid opened.
Inside were three passports, a flash drive, and a thick envelope.
I grabbed the envelope.
"What is this?""
"The original ownership documents for Claire's company.""
"Why do you have them?""
"Because Richard never got the final transfer.""
He took the flash drive.
"Everything we need is here.""
I stared at him.
"Daniel, you need a hospital.""
"I know.""
"You almost died!""
He looked at me.
"Emily, I was buried alive. I know exactly how close I came.""
The words silenced me.
For a moment, all I could hear was the wind rattling the shed.
Then he took my face in his hands.
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you.""
"Why did you make me believe you were dead?""
"Because Richard had someone inside the hospital. If I had survived publicly, he would have finished what he started.""
"And the funeral?""
Daniel looked away.
"Dr. Hale was supposed to reverse the medication before I was transferred. But someone changed the dosage.""
"Who?""
"Vanessa.""
I felt tears filling my eyes.
"Did she know you were alive when they buried you?""
Daniel nodded.
"She knew.""
A vehicle stopped outside the shed.
We heard a door slam.
Daniel grabbed the flash drive.
"There's another thing you need to know.""
"What?""
He looked directly at me.
"The photograph Margaret showed you wasn't taken three days after my death.""
I frowned.
"What do you mean?""
"It was taken three days before I collapsed.""
My stomach tightened.
"Then why did it have that date?""
"Because someone altered the photograph.""
He reached into his pocket and showed me a second copy.
In the original image, Vanessa was standing beside him.
But behind her was another person.
A man wearing a police uniform.
I recognized him.
He had been one of the officers who attended Daniel's funeral.
Daniel whispered:
"He's the one who signed the order allowing the funeral home to release my body.""
Footsteps approached the shed.
Then a familiar voice called from outside.
"Daniel?""
It was Margaret.
"Sweetheart, come out. It's over.""
Daniel went completely still.
He looked at me.
"Emily, don't open that door.""
Outside, Margaret began crying.
"Please, son. I only want to bring you home.""
Daniel tightened his grip on the flash drive.
May you like
Then he whispered:
"She's not supposed to be alive.""
