Chapter 5 - THE MAN WITH THE RED CUFFLINKS
Trevor Grant had worked beside my husband for eleven years.
He attended our wedding.
He came to Madison’s fifth birthday party.
He had once driven Daniel to the emergency room after Daniel sliced his hand open at a job site.
And according to my eight-year-old daughter, Trevor had been inside my house the night my husband died.
Evelyn denied it.
Immediately.
“She’s confused.”
Madison looked hurt.
“I’m not.”
“She was half asleep.”
“I wasn’t.”
“Madison—”
My daughter pointed at Evelyn.
“You were wearing your blue coat.”
Evelyn stopped breathing.
I remembered that coat.
Dark blue wool.
She wore it every winter.
Madison continued.
“And Mr. Trevor had shiny red things on his sleeves.”
Claire frowned.
“Cufflinks?”
Madison looked at her.
“I guess.”
My mind flashed back to the funeral.
Trevor had worn a charcoal suit.
White shirt.
And ruby-red cufflinks.
I had noticed them because Daniel used to tease him about dressing like a casino owner.
Claire grabbed her phone.
“Police need Trevor’s address.”
Ryan suddenly stepped toward her.
“Don’t.”
I stared at him.
“Why not?”
“Because if Trevor knows Daniel left evidence, he’ll disappear.”
That sentence hit me harder than the recording.
“You believe Madison.”
Ryan closed his eyes.
“Yes.”
Evelyn whispered, “Ryan…”
He turned on his mother.
“No. Enough.”
Something changed in him.
Maybe fear.
Maybe guilt finally losing its grip.
He looked at me.
“Trevor knew about the money.”
“He’s the CFO.”
“He did more than know.”
“What are you saying?”
Ryan rubbed both hands over his face.
“The transfers weren’t my idea.”
I almost laughed.
“Convenient.”
“I signed them.”
“So you stole.”
“Yes.”
The honesty stunned me.
“I took the money. I signed things I shouldn’t have. I lied to Daniel.”
“Why?”
Ryan looked ashamed.
“Gambling.”
Evelyn started crying again.
He continued.
“It started small. Sports bets. Then online tables. Then I borrowed from the company to cover losses.”
“Nine hundred thousand dollars?”
“I kept thinking the next win would fix everything.”
“You threatened my husband over gambling debt?”
“No.”
“Your voice is on tape.”
“I threatened him because Trevor told me Daniel was going to report everything before I could replace it.”
Claire narrowed her eyes.
“What did Trevor get out of helping you?”
Ryan laughed bitterly.
“That’s the part I figured out too late.”
He looked at me.
“Trevor wasn’t helping me hide the theft.”
“What was he doing?”
“He was using my theft to hide his.”
A knock sounded from the office door.
Two police officers had arrived.
Behind them stood Detective Aaron Miller.
He had handled Daniel’s death.
I felt relief for half a second.
Then Ryan whispered:
“Oh, hell.”
“What?”
May you like
Ryan’s eyes stayed locked on Miller.
“That’s the cop Trevor paid.”
