Chapter 9 - THE OTHER WOMAN
Police found her three days later.
Her name was Claire Benton.
She had dated Daniel when they were twenty-four.
I knew about Claire.
Daniel had once described her as the woman he almost married.
I had never known why they broke up.
Now I did.
Officer Harris arranged a video call.
Claire appeared on screen with dark hair and tired eyes.
Daniel looked stunned.
"Claire."
"Hi."
"I'm sorry they dragged you into this."
"They didn't."
She looked toward Officer Harris.
"I contacted them after I heard what happened."
Daniel frowned.
"Why?"
Claire took a breath.
"Because Margaret did something to me too."
The room went silent.
"Seven years ago, I got pregnant."
Daniel stood so suddenly that his chair fell backward.
"What?"
Claire nodded.
"You never told me."
"I tried."
"No, you didn't."
"Daniel, listen."
Her voice cracked.
"I was scared. We hadn't planned it. I told Margaret first because I thought she'd help me figure out how to tell you."
Daniel looked sick.
Claire continued.
"She was sweet at first."
I knew exactly what was coming.
"Then what?"
"She brought me tea."
My hands went cold.
"That night, I started cramping."
Daniel whispered, "No."
"I lost the pregnancy."
He covered his mouth.
Claire wiped her eyes.
"Margaret told me not to tell you. She said you'd blame me. She said you didn't want children."
"That was a lie."
"I know that now."
"Why didn't you call me?"
"Because the next morning she showed me messages."
Daniel stared at her.
"What messages?"
"Texts from your number saying you were done with me."
"I never sent those."
"I know."
Daniel looked toward Officer Harris.
Claire nodded.
"I found out years later that Margaret had access to his old phone account."
My stomach turned.
She had done it before.
Not once.
Years ago.
Maybe repeatedly.
Officer Harris asked, "Did Margaret ever admit putting something in the tea?"
Claire shook her head.
"No."
Then she reached off-screen and lifted a small envelope.
"But I kept the cup."
Daniel stared.
"What?"
"I don't know why. Maybe because some part of me always knew something was wrong."
She held up a sealed evidence bag.
"I gave it to police yesterday."
Officer Harris looked at us.
"The lab expedited testing."
Daniel whispered, "And?"
Harris's expression hardened.
"They found traces of the same medication discovered in Emily's water."
Daniel sat down.
His mother hadn't suddenly snapped.
She hadn't lost control for one terrible moment.
May you like
She had been doing this for years.
And now the police finally had proof.
