Chapter 4: The Brother Who Sold My Husband Out
I stared at the frozen image on James's tablet.
My brother.
Michael Bennett.
The same man who had stood beside me at Daniel's funeral, held my shoulders while I sobbed, and promised that I would never have to face anything alone.
The same man who had carried Lily's hospital bag when she was born.
The same man who had kissed her forehead and whispered, "I'll always protect you, little one.""
Now I was watching him hand a briefcase to the man who might have stolen my husband's company.
"Play it again," I whispered.
James hesitated.
"Claire—"
"Please.""
He pressed the screen.
The video resumed.
Michael looked around the underground garage before opening the sedan door. Richard leaned out and handed him a thick envelope. Michael passed over the briefcase.
Then something happened that made my stomach twist.
Richard reached into his jacket and handed Michael a second envelope.
Money.
Not documents.
Not business papers.
Money.
I covered my mouth.
"How much?"" I asked.
"We don't know," James answered.
"But based on the thickness of the envelope, our investigators believe it was a substantial payment.""
Margaret sat beside me.
"Claire, I'm so sorry.""
I shook my head.
"Don't apologize. Just tell me everything.""
James placed another document on the table.
"Michael was listed as an authorized representative during the original acquisition negotiations. Daniel trusted him enough to give him temporary access to several financial records.""
"Temporary?""
"Yes. That access should have expired months ago.""
I stared at the paperwork.
"Why didn't anyone tell me?""
"Because Daniel handled the arrangement personally.""
I remembered my brother visiting our house during my pregnancy.
He had always found a reason to be alone with Daniel.
Sometimes they spoke in the study. Other times they went outside and walked around the garden.
I had assumed they were discussing investments.
Now those conversations seemed sinister.
My phone rang.
Michael's name appeared on the screen.
I looked at James.
He shook his head slightly.
"Don't answer until we've secured the evidence.""
But I couldn't stop staring at his name.
Michael had called me every morning after Daniel died.
He had brought groceries, arranged the funeral flowers, and insisted on paying for Lily's nursery furniture.
Was all of it guilt?
Or was he simply making sure I stayed too distracted to investigate?
I rejected the call.
A message appeared seconds later.
Claire, we need to talk. Call me immediately. It's about Daniel.
My blood ran cold.
James read the message.
"He knows something has happened.""
"How?""
"Someone may have warned him.""
Margaret stood.
"I'll secure the private entrance.""
James nodded.
"Good. And have security preserve all recordings from the past six months.""
I looked at him.
"Don't let Michael know we're watching him.""
James lowered his voice.
"Claire, you need to understand something. If he was involved in the attempted sale, this could become dangerous.""
I looked down at Lily.
Her eyes were closed again.
"No one is getting near my daughter.""
An hour later, we were in the hotel's executive conference room.
The room had floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city. A long walnut table stood in the center, surrounded by expensive leather chairs.
I had visited enough boardrooms with Daniel to recognize the atmosphere.
People were nervous.
Nobody wanted to be the first to speak.
James placed the hotel audit report in front of the board members.
"Before we begin, I want everyone to understand that the Grand Windsor is under investigation for unauthorized financial transactions and an attempted fraudulent sale.""
One board member, an older man named Peter Lawson, adjusted his glasses.
"Are you suggesting someone inside the company attempted to sell an asset without approval?""
"Yes.""
"Who?""
James looked at me.
I nodded.
"Richard Collins," I answered.
A woman at the far end of the table gasped.
"Richard? He's been with us for eleven years.""
"That doesn't make him innocent," I replied.
Peter cleared his throat.
"And what does this have to do with the incident in the lobby?""
I touched my cheek.
"Richard ordered me out after a guest assaulted me while I was holding my newborn daughter. He refused to review the security footage. He threatened a receptionist who witnessed the incident.""
Nobody spoke.
I continued.
"Then we discovered evidence that he had been working with my brother.""
Peter looked at James.
"Her brother?""
James displayed the garage footage.
The room fell silent.
When the video ended, Peter removed his glasses.
"Good God.""
Another director leaned forward.
"Who authorized Michael Bennett's access to the acquisition documents?""
"Daniel did," James answered.
"But the access was revoked before his death.""
Peter frowned.
"Then how did Michael obtain the briefcase?""
"We're investigating.""
I stared at the frozen image.
"Find out what was inside it.""
James nodded.
"Already working on it.""
Suddenly, the conference room door opened.
A security officer entered.
"Mr. Carter, there's someone downstairs asking to see Ms. Bennett.""
James stood.
"Who?""
The officer hesitated.
"Michael Bennett.""
My heart began pounding.
I looked at the clock.
"He's here?""
"Yes, ma'am.""
James turned toward me.
"Claire, we can have him escorted away.""
I thought about the message.
It's about Daniel.
"No," I said.
"Bring him up.""
James frowned.
"Are you sure?""
"He's my brother. I want to hear what he has to say.""
Michael entered ten minutes later.
He wore a navy suit and carried the same expensive leather briefcase I had seen in the footage.
His face looked tired.
But his eyes immediately went to Lily.
"Claire.""
He stepped toward me.
I didn't move.
"Don't.""
He stopped.
His gaze shifted to the directors around the table.
"What is this? A board meeting?""
James answered.
"Sit down, Michael.""
Michael laughed nervously.
"Why are you speaking to me like that?""
"Because we have questions about your dealings with Richard Collins.""
Michael's expression changed.
Only slightly.
But I saw it.
"What dealings?""
I pushed the tablet across the table.
"Would you like to explain this?""
He watched the footage.
For several seconds, he said nothing.
Then he leaned back.
"That's not what it looks like.""
I almost laughed.
"Then tell me what it looks like.""
"Richard was helping me retrieve some documents.""
"With an envelope full of cash?""
"It was repayment for a private loan.""
I stared at him.
"You borrowed money from Richard?""
Michael rubbed his forehead.
"Claire, you don't understand the business.""
"Then explain it.""
He glanced toward the board members.
"Can we speak privately?""
"No.""
His jaw tightened.
"You're making a mistake.""
I looked down at Lily.
"Did you know Daniel was investigating Richard?""
Michael didn't answer.
"Did you know he suspected money was being stolen?""
"Claire—"
"Did you know?""
He finally looked at me.
"Yes.""
The word landed like a stone.
My throat tightened.
"Then why didn't you tell me?""
Michael leaned forward.
"Because Daniel was becoming obsessed. He thought everyone was stealing from him.""
I stared at him.
"Everyone?""
"He was paranoid.""
"Daniel trusted you.""
Michael's eyes flickered.
"Exactly. He trusted me too much.""
The room went completely still.
James slowly closed his folder.
I looked at my brother.
"What does that mean?""
Michael swallowed.
Then he reached into his briefcase and pulled out a sealed envelope.
"Daniel gave me this the night he died.""
I couldn't breathe.
"What?""
"He told me to keep it safe.""
"Why didn't you give it to me?""
Michael looked down.
"Because the instructions inside were very clear.""
He pushed the envelope across the table.
My husband's handwriting appeared on the front.
For Claire. Only if Michael refuses to tell her the truth.
I opened it with trembling fingers.
Inside was a single sheet of paper.
The first sentence made my heart stop.
Claire, if you're reading this, Michael has already betrayed me.
I looked up.
My brother was no longer pretending to be innocent.
He was crying.
May you like
And then he whispered something that changed everything.
"Claire, I didn't plan for Daniel to die.""
