Chapter 3 - THE DEAD WIFE RETURNS
By sunrise, Bennett Manor was filled with mourners.
Eleanor moved among them wearing black.
She accepted condolences with perfect grace.
“My poor daughter-in-law.”
She touched a handkerchief to her dry eyes.
“And the baby…”
Daniel stood beside the fireplace.
He looked exhausted.
A police officer approached him.
“We haven't recovered either body.”
Eleanor answered before Daniel could.
“The ravine feeds into the river.”
The officer nodded.
“With last night's rain, it's possible they were carried downstream.”
“How terrible.”
Eleanor lowered her eyes.
Daniel watched his mother perform.
Something inside him twisted.
Then Victor entered.
Their eyes met.
Daniel immediately excused himself.
They went into the study.
“Did you find her?”
Victor closed the door.
“Yes.”
Daniel's face drained.
“Alive?”
“She and Margaret.”
Daniel sat down.
“My God.”
Victor placed the brass key on the desk.
Daniel stared at it.
“What is that?”
“You tell me.”
Daniel picked it up.
His hand began trembling.
Eleanor entered.
She saw the key.
Her expression changed instantly.
“Where did you get that?”
Victor smiled.
“Margaret dropped it.”
Eleanor grabbed it.
“Then she knows.”
Daniel looked between them.
“Knows what?”
Eleanor ignored him.
“Where are they now?”
“Escaped.”
Eleanor slapped Victor.
Daniel jumped.
Victor slowly turned his face back toward her.
“Do that again and our arrangement changes.”
Eleanor glared at him.
“Find them.”
Victor smiled without warmth.
“My price just doubled.”
Daniel stood.
“What arrangement?”
Neither answered.
Daniel slammed his hand onto the desk.
“What arrangement?”
Eleanor looked at her son.
“The arrangement keeping you out of prison.”
Daniel stared at her.
“What have you done?”
“What was necessary.”
Before Eleanor could say more, the front door opened downstairs.
A maid screamed.
Everyone in the study froze.
Then came another scream.
Daniel ran into the hall.
Guests were gathering near the entrance.
A figure stood in the doorway.
Mud covered her dress.
Blood streaked her face.
One shoe was missing.
Her hair hung loose around her shoulders.
But Clara Bennett was alive.
The room fell completely silent.
Daniel stopped halfway down the stairs.
Clara looked up at him.
Their eyes met.
“Hello, Daniel.”
His lips moved.
“Clara…”
Eleanor appeared behind him.
For the first time that morning, genuine emotion crossed her face.
Fear.
Clara walked into the house.
Every guest watched.
The police officer hurried toward her.
“Mrs. Bennett?”
Clara didn't take her eyes off Daniel.
“My husband tried to murder me.”
Gasps filled the room.
Daniel gripped the railing.
“Clara, you're confused.”
“I watched you cut the rope.”
“You hit your head.”
“I watched you push Margaret off the cliff.”
“That's insane.”
Clara smiled faintly.
“Then you'll have nothing to worry about.”
The officer stepped forward.
“Where is Margaret?”
“Safe.”
That was a lie.
Clara had hidden Margaret in the home of an old farmhand two miles away.
Nobody needed to know.
Not yet.
Eleanor descended the stairs.
“Clara.”
She opened her arms.
“You've suffered a terrible trauma.”
Clara stepped away.
“Don't touch me.”
“Please.”
“You cut the carriage brake.”
The room erupted.
Eleanor's expression didn't change.
“She's delirious.”
Clara looked at the police officer.
“Search the carriage.”
“We already examined it.”
“And?”
The officer hesitated.
“The brake line appears damaged.”
Daniel stared at Eleanor.
Eleanor stared back.
The officer continued.
“But we haven't determined whether it was intentional.”
Clara nodded.
“Then determine it.”
Daniel came down the stairs.
“Sweetheart.”
Clara almost laughed.
“Don't call me that.”
“I thought you were dead.”
“I know.”
His face tightened.
“You're not thinking clearly.”
Clara stepped closer.
“I was thinking very clearly while I watched you cut my rescue rope.”
Daniel whispered.
“Be careful.”
“Is that another threat?”
Guests murmured.
Daniel realized everyone was listening.
He changed his expression.
“I love you.”
Clara looked at him for several seconds.
Then slapped him.
The sound echoed through the hall.
Daniel's face snapped sideways.
Clara leaned close.
“You should have made sure I was dead.”
She walked past him.
Eleanor watched her.
Clara climbed the stairs.
She entered her bedroom.
Then locked the door.
Her confident expression disappeared.
She pressed both hands against the dresser.
She was terrified.
But she had returned for one reason.
The will.
Margaret had explained where the hidden chapel entrance was.
Clara needed to reach it before Eleanor.
She changed clothes.
Then heard something.
A click.
Someone was unlocking her bedroom door from outside.
Clara turned.
The door opened.
Daniel stepped inside.
He locked it behind him.
Clara backed away.
Daniel's eyes were different now.
No performance.
No loving husband.
No witnesses.
Only rage.
“You should have stayed at the bottom of that cliff.”
Clara reached behind herself.
Her fingers closed around a silver candlestick.
Daniel walked closer.
“You've made this much harder than it needed to be.”
Clara raised the candlestick.
“Take another step.”
Daniel stopped.
Then smiled.
“You really think the cliff was our first attempt?”
Clara's blood ran cold.
“What?”
Daniel glanced toward her stomach.
“The medicine you've been taking every night.”
Clara stared at him.
“Your prenatal tonic.”
Daniel's smile widened.
“Mother has been adding something to it for weeks.”
Clara's hand moved protectively over her belly.
Daniel leaned closer.
“You were supposed to lose the baby quietly.”
And suddenly Clara understood.
May you like
The cliff hadn't been the beginning.
It had been Plan B.
