Chapter 8: The Woman Who Knew Too Much
I didn’t sleep that night.
I sat on Mrs. Patterson’s couch with Maya beside me, watching the same memories replay over and over.
Thomas’s funeral.
The people who came.
The people who cried.
The people who told me everything would be okay.
And among them was Claire Bennett.
My divorce attorney.
She had been the person who helped me escape my marriage when Thomas and I separated.
She had held my hand through paperwork.
She had told me I deserved peace.
Now my brother was telling me she was connected to my husband’s death.
“Do you trust Ethan?”” Maya asked quietly.
I looked at her.
That question hurt more than anything.
Because my daughter had spent weeks asking herself the same thing about everyone.
“I don’t know.””
Maya nodded.
“I don’t either.””
The honesty broke my heart.
A thirteen-year-old should not know how to question every adult around her.
By morning, Ethan had given us a name.
Claire Bennett.
And one piece of information.
“She wasn’t just Thomas’s lawyer during the divorce,” Ethan said.
“She was Daniel’s lawyer too.””
I stared at him.
“That’s impossible.””
“Look it up.””
I did.
And there it was.
A business record connecting Claire Bennett’s law firm to one of Daniel’s companies.
A connection hidden behind three different names.
“She was helping both sides.””
Ethan nodded.
“Thomas found out.””
“Why didn’t he tell me?””
“Because he thought you would confront her.””
I looked at Maya.
“And then?””
Ethan looked away.
“And then she would know he was suspicious.””
I hated that he was making sense.
That afternoon, I called Claire.
I didn’t accuse her.
I didn’t reveal what I knew.
I pretended everything was normal.
“Renee,” she answered warmly.
“It’s been so long.””
Too warm.
“I need your help.””
“Of course.””
“I found some old documents from Thomas.””
A pause.
Only half a second.
But enough.
“What kind of documents?””
I forced my voice steady.
“Business records.””
Another pause.
Then she laughed softly.
“Renee, Thomas was always complicated.””
I looked at Ethan.
He shook his head.
Don’t tell her.
“I need to meet you.””
“Today?””
“Yes.””
She agreed immediately.
Too quickly.
We met at a small coffee shop downtown.
Claire arrived wearing a perfect black coat, carrying the same leather bag I remembered from my divorce meetings.
She smiled when she saw me.
But her eyes went straight to Maya.
“Is she okay?””
I noticed.
Not concern.
Assessment.
“She’s fine.””
Claire sat down.
“Tell me about the documents.””
I stirred my coffee.
“Why were you working with Daniel Voss?””
Her smile disappeared.
Only for a second.
Then it returned.
“I don’t know what you mean.””
“I saw the records.””
She leaned back.
“Renee, grief can make people search for answers that aren’t there.””
My hands tightened.
“You’re saying I’m imagining this?””
“I’m saying you need to be careful.””
The words felt like a threat.
“Careful of what?””
Claire looked at Maya.
Then back at me.
“Careful of trusting the wrong people.””
A chill went through me.
Because those were almost the exact words Thomas had written.
I stood.
“Are you threatening me?””
“No.””
She smiled.
“I’m warning you.””
As I turned to leave, her phone lit up on the table.
She reached for it quickly.
Too quickly.
But not before I saw the message.
One name.
Daniel.
May you like
And the words:
*She knows. Handle it tonight.*
