Chapter 3 - THE VIDEO CLAIRE LEFT BEHIND
Adrian connected the USB drive to a laptop in his private study.
Natalie stood beside him.
Rachel held Emma near the fireplace.
Madison, Caleb, and Margaret remained near the doorway.
None of them wanted to be there.
That told Adrian everything.
A single video file appeared.
Date recorded: five days before Claire died.
Adrian clicked PLAY.
Claire appeared on the screen.
Alive.
Adrian forgot how to breathe.
Her blond hair was pulled into a loose ponytail.
Her face looked exhausted.
“If you’re watching this, Adrian, something has gone very wrong.”
Natalie began crying.
Adrian didn’t move.
Claire continued.
“I found financial transfers from the Westwood Foundation to shell companies controlled by someone inside the family.”
Margaret stiffened.
Claire looked directly into the camera.
“The signatures belong to Caleb.”
Adrian turned.
Caleb closed his eyes.
“But I don’t believe Caleb is acting alone,” Claire continued.
“There are authorization codes belonging to Margaret.”
Adrian’s head turned toward his mother.
Margaret went white.
Then Claire said the name Adrian feared most.
“Madison helped move the money.”
Madison backed toward the door.
Adrian blocked her.
“Stay.”
The video continued.
“They’ve stolen nearly twelve million dollars from charitable medical funds.”
Natalie covered her mouth.
Claire took a shaky breath.
“I confronted Madison yesterday.”
Madison whispered, “Turn it off.”
Adrian ignored her.
“She told me I was making a mistake.”
Claire’s eyes filled with fear.
“She said families like the Westwoods don’t survive because they’re honest. They survive because they protect themselves.”
Adrian stared at Madison.
“Did you say that?”
“No.”
But nobody believed her anymore.
Claire leaned closer to the camera.
“If anything happens to me, check the red case.”
The recording ended.
Silence.
Adrian rose slowly.
“Where is it?”
Madison crossed her arms.
“I don’t know.”
Emma spoke from across the room.
“The man took it.”
Caleb looked at her.
“What man?”
“The one who came when Mommy was cleaning.”
Rachel stared at her daughter.
“When?”
Emma thought.
“Before my birthday.”
Rachel’s voice shook.
“That was three months ago.”
Adrian looked at Caleb.
“Were you here three months ago?”
“I live here sometimes.”
“That wasn’t my question.”
Caleb snapped.
“Yes! Fine. I came into Claire’s room.”
Natalie stepped forward.
“You son of a bitch.”
“I didn’t kill her!”
Nobody had accused him.
The words hung in the room.
Adrian’s face became still.
“I never said you did.”
Caleb realized his mistake.
Madison closed her eyes.
Margaret whispered, “Caleb…”
Adrian moved toward his brother.
“Why would you say that?”
Caleb backed up.
“Because this whole thing is insane.”
Adrian grabbed his shirt.
“Did you kill my wife?”
“No!”
“Did Madison?”
“I don’t know!”
“Did Mom?”
Margaret gasped.
“Adrian!”
Caleb shoved Adrian away.
“Claire was going to destroy everything!”
“And that gave you the right to kill her?”
“I DIDN’T!”
Emma began crying.
Rachel pulled her close.
Adrian forced himself to step away.
Then the study phone rang.
Everyone froze.
Nobody used that line.
Adrian answered.
“Hello?”
A distorted male voice spoke.
“You should have left the closet closed.”
Adrian’s eyes narrowed.
“Who is this?”
“You want the red box?”
“Yes.”
“Then come to the old Westwood boathouse.”
“Where is Claire’s ring?”
A pause.
Then the man laughed softly.
“Her ring isn’t the important thing inside that box.”
Adrian gripped the phone.
“What is?”
The caller whispered:
May you like
“Proof that Claire Westwood’s crash was never an accident.”
The line went dead.
