Chapter 7 - THE ATTORNEY'S SECRET
The attorney's name was Victor Lang.
He had represented Claire for seven years.
He had also represented Emily in one confidential corporate matter that never appeared in the estate files.
Harris subpoenaed his records.
Victor fought back immediately.
Privilege.
Confidentiality.
Attorney-client protection.
But there was one thing he couldn't hide.
A payment from Claire deposited two days before Emily's death.
Two million dollars.
I drove to Victor's office with Harris.
He met us behind locked glass doors.
“You have no right to be here.”
Harris held up the warrant.
“Actually, we do.”
Victor looked at me.
“I know you're grieving.”
“Stop saying that.”
He frowned.
“I'm not a grieving husband anymore. I'm a man asking why you received two million dollars from my wife's account.”
Victor's face changed.
“That money was part of a settlement.”
“Between whom?”
“Confidential.”
Harris stepped forward.
“Then explain the shell company.”
Victor looked at the floor.
Claire had created a network that moved money through the foundation, the company, and several private trusts.
But Victor was not the mastermind.
He was the cleaner.
He had forged legal documents.
He had hidden witness reports.
He had arranged the false insurance policy.
And he knew what happened the night Emily died.
“Tell us,” I said.
Victor rubbed his face.
“Emily wasn't killed in the crash.”
Silence.
“She survived the crash.”
My heart stopped.
“What?”
“She was alive when the first responders arrived.”
“Then how did she die?”
Victor stared at me.
“Someone ordered the ambulance to be delayed.”
Harris went rigid.
“Who?”
Victor swallowed.
“I don't know.”
I grabbed the edge of the table.
“You know.”
“I know Claire gave an order.”
“Why?”
“Because Emily had one piece of evidence she had never told anyone about.”
I waited.
Victor leaned closer.
“A recording of Claire confessing to the original theft.”
“And where is it?”
“Emily hid it.”
“Where?”
Victor shook his head.
“I never knew.”
Then he looked at me.
“But Emily told Claire one thing before she died.”
“What?”
Victor whispered it.
“She told Claire that Ethan would eventually find the recording.”
I felt something cold settle in my chest.
That explained the wedding.
Claire hadn't been protecting her reputation.
May you like
She had been trying to stop me from finding the final proof.
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