Chapter 4 - THE DEAD WIFE

Naomi picked me up forty minutes later.

She took one look at me and didn’t ask questions.

She handed me shoes, coffee, and a spare coat.

Then she drove straight to her office.

Her investigator, Marcus Bell, was already waiting.

Former detective.

Gray hair.

Eyes that missed nothing.

He spread papers across the conference table.

“Daniel reported Rebecca missing seven years ago.”

“Why wasn’t I told?”

“Because nobody checks whether their fiancé has a missing wife.”

Naomi slid another paper toward me.

“He petitioned for a declaration of presumed death three years later.”

“Was it granted?”

“No.”

I looked up.

“Why?”

Marcus answered.

“Rebecca’s sister objected.”

A name was highlighted.

Samantha Lawson.

“Where is she?”

“Albany.”

“Call her.”

Marcus leaned back.

“I already did.”

“And?”

“She hung up when I said Daniel Bennett.”

My stomach twisted.

Naomi touched my arm.

“Claire, you need to understand something. If Daniel was still legally married yesterday, your marriage may be invalid.”

I swallowed.

“May be?”

“State laws get messy. But the fraud issue is worse.”

My phone buzzed.

Daniel.

I ignored it.

Another message arrived.

We need to talk before this gets out of control.

Then:

Mom is devastated.

I almost laughed.

Marcus watched my face.

“He’s trying to manage you.”

A third message.

Come home and we can fix this.

I typed:

Where is Rebecca?

Three dots appeared.

Disappeared.

Appeared again.

Then nothing.

Marcus leaned forward.

“Don’t tell him what we know.”

“I already asked.”

“That’s fine.”

My phone rang.

Unknown number.

Naomi nodded for me to answer on speaker.

“Hello?”

Breathing.

Then a woman whispered,

“Are you Claire?”

“Yes.”

“My name is Samantha Lawson.”

The room went still.

“I’m Rebecca’s sister.”

My hands trembled.

“I found her marriage certificate.”

“I know.”

“How?”

“Because Daniel called me ten minutes ago.”

My heart lurched.

“What did he say?”

“That some unstable woman was harassing him about Rebecca.”

I closed my eyes.

“Did your sister divorce him?”

“No.”

“Where is she?”

Samantha began crying.

“I don’t know.”

“What happened to her?”

“She tried to leave him.”

Marcus sat forward.

“When?”

“Seven years ago.”

“Why?”

Samantha hesitated.

“Because she discovered what Daniel and Margaret were doing.”

My pulse quickened.

“What were they doing?”

“They were stealing from women.”

Silence.

Samantha continued.

“Not jewelry. Not bank cards.”

Her voice cracked.

“Families. Trusts. Property. Businesses.”

I looked at Naomi.

Samantha whispered the next words.

“Claire, Rebecca wasn’t Daniel’s first target.”

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