Chapter 6 - Blood Beside the River
Police vehicles surrounded the abandoned car.
Rain began falling over the river road.
Clara stood beneath a black umbrella beside Mr. Bell.
She had changed into a simple navy dress from the estate’s emergency wardrobe.
The ruined wedding gown remained sealed inside an evidence bag.
Andrew stood twenty feet away.
She had refused to ride with him.
Detective Laura Chen approached from the vehicle.
“There is not enough blood to confirm a serious injury.”
“Whose blood is it?”
“We do not know yet.”
Clara looked into the car.
Patricia’s purse sat on the passenger seat.
Her phone was missing.
The original estate deed was also gone.
Detective Chen pointed toward the road.
“Tire marks show another vehicle stopped here.”
“Someone picked them up.”
“Or forced them into another car.”
Andrew moved closer.
“My mother may have been kidnapped.”
Clara looked at him.
“Your mother planned the escape.”
“You do not know that.”
“She disabled the lights.”
“She stole the deed.”
“And she left through a hidden corridor with the man she hired.”
Andrew’s jaw tightened.
“She is still my mother.”
“And I was supposed to become your wife.”
The words silenced him.
Detective Chen raised a hand.
“This is not helping.”
A forensic technician approached with a plastic evidence sleeve.
Inside was a silver cuff link.
Andrew recognized it immediately.
“That belongs to Gregory Hale.”
Clara turned.
“Patricia’s attorney?”
Andrew nodded.
“He wears those every day.”
Detective Chen looked at him.
“When did you last see Mr. Hale?”
“Two weeks ago.”
Clara remembered something.
“At the rehearsal dinner.”
Andrew looked confused.
“Gregory was not there.”
“Yes, he was.”
Clara closed her eyes, reconstructing the evening.
“I saw him leaving through the kitchen.”
“He was carrying a black document case.”
Mr. Bell frowned.
“No outside attorneys were authorized to enter the estate.”
Detective Chen wrote something down.
“We will locate him.”
A phone rang from inside Patricia’s purse.
Everyone froze.
The technician carefully removed a second phone hidden beneath the lining.
Detective Chen answered on speaker.
A distorted voice filled the rainy air.
“Is Clara Mason there?”
Detective Chen signaled everyone to remain silent.
Clara stepped forward.
“Yes.”
“Your future mother-in-law has something that belongs to us.”
“Who are you?”
“Someone who knows what Patricia stole.”
Clara looked at Andrew.
His face was unreadable.
The voice continued.
“Bring the ownership portfolio to the old Whitlock textile mill.”
“Come alone.”
Detective Chen shook her head.
Clara ignored her.
“I do not have what you want.”
“Then bring Andrew.”
Andrew stiffened.
“Why me?”
The caller laughed quietly.
“Because your father left the real records in your name.”
Andrew went pale.
“My father has been dead for seven years.”
“Dead men still keep secrets.”
The call ended.
Rain struck the roof of the abandoned car.
Detective Chen turned to Andrew.
“What records?”
“I have no idea.”
Clara studied him.
He looked genuinely terrified.
But she no longer trusted her own ability to believe him.
Mr. Bell spoke quietly.
“Your father owned the old textile mill before it closed.”
Andrew looked toward the dark river.
“He died there.”
Clara felt a chill unrelated to the rain.
“How?”
“A fire.”
Detective Chen narrowed her eyes.
“Was Patricia with him?”
Andrew nodded.
“She was the only person who escaped.”
The detective looked at the silver cuff link.
Then at the hidden phone.
Then at Andrew.
“I do not think tonight began with a wedding dress.”
Clara understood.
The torn gown had only exposed something much older.
Something Patricia had been hiding for years.
Detective Chen’s phone buzzed.
She checked the screen.
Her face changed.
“Forensics identified the blood.”
Andrew stepped forward.
“Is it my mother’s?”
“No.”
May you like
Detective Chen looked directly at Clara.
“It belongs to your father.”
