Chapter 6 - THE FUNERAL WITHOUT A BODY
They buried an empty casket six days later.
Michael insisted on a funeral even though rescuers had not recovered my body.
He told reporters he needed closure.
Daniel arranged for me to watch through a secure live feed.
I sat in a private recovery residence with James asleep against my chest.
Snow covered the cemetery outside Boulder.
Hundreds of people attended.
Coworkers.
Neighbors.
Clients.
Friends I hadn't spoken to in years.
My former college roommate cried in the front row.
My business partner, Nicole, looked completely broken.
Watching people mourn me was one of the strangest experiences of my life.
Then Michael arrived.
Black suit.
Black tie.
Perfect posture.
He touched the closed casket and bowed his head.
Ashley walked behind him wearing a long black coat.
She stood with Michael's family.
Not mine.
That told me everything.
"Look at their hands," Rebecca said.
I did.
For most of the ceremony, Michael and Ashley did not touch.
Then the minister asked everyone to bow their heads.
Michael's hand moved behind his coat.
Ashley reached toward him.
Their fingers met.
Hidden from almost everyone.
Almost.
Daniel's investigator captured it with a long-range camera.
I felt sick.
My son stirred.
I held him closer.
The minister spoke about my kindness.
My work.
My unborn child.
Michael covered his face.
He looked exactly like a man destroyed by grief.
Then he approached the microphone.
"Emma was my best friend."
My stomach turned.
"She was the love of my life."
I laughed once.
It sounded ugly.
Daniel stood behind the couch.
"You can turn it off."
"No."
Michael continued.
"Our son should have been born this month."
I looked down at James.
Alive.
Breathing.
Safe.
Michael wiped away a tear.
"I would trade everything I own to bring them back."
Rebecca quietly said, "Except seventy-three million dollars."
Daniel looked at her.
She didn't apologize.
Michael stepped away.
Ashley immediately moved closer.
After the funeral, they drove separately.
But both vehicles ended at the same hotel.
They entered through different doors.
They took different elevators.
And met inside a suite registered under Ashley's sister's name.
Daniel's surveillance team could not legally enter.
They didn't need to.
At 9:41 p.m., Ashley stepped onto the balcony with Michael behind her.
A directional microphone positioned from a neighboring building captured fragments of conversation.
"...once the claim clears..."
"...Bennett holdings..."
"...sell the house..."
Then Michael said something clearly.
"I told you the cliff would solve everything."
My entire body went cold.
Rebecca replayed it.
Again.
And again.
Daniel's face became frighteningly calm.
"Is that enough?"
Rebecca shook her head.
"It's strong circumstantial evidence."
"Not enough."
"Not for the kind of conviction we want."
I stared at the screen.
Michael wrapped his arms around Ashley.
She laughed.
Then she asked, "What about the baby?"
Michael answered immediately.
"Dead before he ever became a problem."
I handed James to Daniel.
"Take him."
Daniel looked confused.
May you like
"Emma?"
"Take my son before I break that television."
