Chapter 7 - The Father Clara Buried Twice
Clara could not speak.
Her father had died when she was sixteen.
She had attended his funeral.
She had watched his coffin disappear into the ground.
“That is impossible.”
Detective Chen showed her the laboratory report.
“The sample matches DNA from your medical records.”
Andrew looked shaken.
“How could her father’s blood be inside that car?”
Clara remembered the last time she had seen him.
Thomas Mason had kissed her forehead before leaving for a business trip.
Two days later, police said his car had plunged into a ravine.
His body had been too badly damaged for identification.
Her grandmother had handled the funeral.
Clara suddenly felt sick.
“There was never a visual identification.”
Detective Chen nodded.
“Only dental records.”
Mr. Bell looked toward her.
“Your grandmother never believed the accident report.”
Clara turned sharply.
“You knew?”
“She asked me to investigate privately.”
“When?”
“Years before you inherited the estate.”
“And you said nothing?”
“She made me promise.”
Clara stepped away from him.
Everyone she trusted seemed to be carrying a secret.
Andrew spoke carefully.
“If your father survived, Patricia may know where he is.”
Clara stared at the blood inside the car.
“Or she kept him somewhere.”
Detective Chen received another call.
She listened.
“We located Gregory Hale.”
“Is he alive?”
“Yes.”
“He checked himself into a private clinic two hours ago with a broken hand.”
The detective looked toward Clara.
“He claims Patricia attacked him.”
Andrew scoffed.
“My mother is not strong enough to break his hand.”
Detective Chen’s eyes remained cold.
“He says she used a hammer.”
At the clinic, Gregory Hale refused to speak until his attorney arrived.
Clara stood outside the treatment room.
Through the glass, she saw the silver-haired lawyer clutching his bandaged hand.
He noticed her.
Fear crossed his face.
Then he looked away.
Detective Chen entered first.
Clara followed.
Gregory leaned back.
“She should not be here.”
Clara closed the door.
“My father’s blood was found in Patricia’s car.”
Gregory’s face twitched.
That tiny reaction was enough.
“You knew he was alive.”
“I know nothing.”
Clara placed the photograph of Andrew outside Gregory’s office on the table.
“You forged my signature.”
Gregory looked toward Andrew.
“You told her?”
Andrew stepped forward.
“I thought I signed a prenuptial attachment.”
Gregory laughed bitterly.
“You always were a weak boy.”
Andrew grabbed the edge of the table.
“What did my mother make you do?”
“She did not make me do anything.”
Clara leaned closer.
“Then why are you afraid?”
Gregory stared at her.
“Because Patricia has spent twenty years removing people who became inconvenient.”
The room went silent.
Detective Chen pulled out a chair.
“Start talking.”
Gregory looked toward the door.
“She found out Thomas Mason had discovered the Whitlock company was laundering money through construction contracts.”
Clara’s hands became cold.
“My father worked with Andrew’s father.”
Gregory nodded.
“They planned to expose Patricia together.”
Andrew shook his head.
“My father died in the mill fire.”
“Yes.”
Gregory’s voice dropped.
“And Thomas Mason was supposed to die in the ravine that same night.”
Clara gripped the table.
“Supposed to?”
“He escaped.”
“Where is he?”
Gregory closed his eyes.
“Patricia kept him hidden.”
“For twenty years?”
“She needed him alive.”
“Why?”
Gregory looked directly at Clara.
“Because the ownership rights to the Mason estate were never your grandmother’s to give.”
Clara stopped breathing.
Gregory continued.
“Your father still owns half of it.”
“And Patricia has spent years trying to force him to sign it over.”
Andrew stared at him.
“Where is Thomas Mason?”
Gregory hesitated.
Then the clinic lights flickered.
A loud alarm sounded in the hallway.
Smoke began pouring from beneath the treatment room door.
Detective Chen reached for Gregory.
But he collapsed forward.
A syringe was buried in his neck.
Someone had entered through the private bathroom.
The window stood open.
May you like
And written across the mirror in red lipstick were five words.
Clara should have stayed poor.
