Chapter 10 - RACHEL’S POLICY
The policy was real.
One million dollars.
Insured: Rachel Monroe.
Beneficiary: a shell company controlled by Daniel.
Effective date: six weeks earlier.
Rachel read the document twice.
Then threw it across the interrogation room.
“I’m going to kill him.”
Nora caught her arm.
“That would make my job harder.”
“He took out life insurance on me?”
Elena stared through the glass at Daniel.
He sat alone at the table next door.
Handcuffed.
Small.
Ordinary.
That was the worst part.
Monsters were supposed to look like monsters.
Daniel looked like the man who used to burn pancakes on Sunday mornings.
Nora entered his room.
Elena watched through the glass.
“Where is Raymond?” Nora asked.
Daniel shook his head.
“I don’t know.”
“Then how do you know Rachel is in danger?”
“Because that was the backup.”
“What backup?”
“If Elena survived or the insurance didn’t pay, Rachel was next.”
Elena felt Rachel grab her hand.
Nora leaned over the table.
“You expect me to believe you’re suddenly helping?”
Daniel laughed bitterly.
“I’m helping myself.”
“Finally, something honest.”
Daniel looked toward the one-way glass.
“I want a deal.”
Elena whispered, “Of course you do.”
Nora said, “You’re looking at attempted murder, fraud, conspiracy, kidnapping, identity theft—”
“I know what I’m looking at.”
“Then start talking.”
Daniel swallowed.
“Raymond runs everything through construction companies. He buys debt. People think they borrowed from private investors. They borrowed from him.”
“How many people?”
“I don’t know.”
“How many died?”
Daniel looked down.
Nora’s voice sharpened.
“How many?”
“Three.”
Elena’s stomach turned.
“Names.”
Daniel gave them.
Two businessmen.
One woman.
All had died in accidents.
All had large insurance policies.
Nora stepped back.
“This is bigger than you.”
“Yes.”
“You still tried to kill your wife.”
Daniel closed his eyes.
“Yes.”
The word hit Elena harder than the videos.
No excuse.
No denial.
Just yes.
Rachel looked at her sister.
Elena’s eyes were dry.
“I want to hear the rest.”
Daniel continued.
“Raymond keeps records. Every payment. Every policy. Every death.”
“Where?”
“I don’t know.”
“Then you’re useless.”
“I know how to get him to show himself.”
Nora stopped.
“How?”
Daniel looked toward the glass.
“He thinks Elena has access to money he needs.”
Elena entered the room before anyone could stop her.
Daniel looked up.
For a second, he seemed shocked.
Then ashamed.
Elena sat across from him.
“What money?”
“Your grandfather’s trust.”
Elena frowned.
“That trust ended years ago.”
Daniel shook his head.
“No.”
“What?”
“There’s another account.”
“How do you know?”
“Your mother knew.”
Elena’s chest tightened.
“My mother died five years ago.”
Daniel’s voice became quiet.
“She didn’t die without leaving you something.”
Elena stared at him.
“What did she leave?”
Daniel leaned forward.
“Twenty-three million dollars.”
Rachel laughed in disbelief.
Daniel didn’t.
May you like
Then he said the sentence that changed everything.
“And Raymond thinks I know where it is.”
