Chapter 15 - THE CABIN AT HOLLOW CREEK
Federal agents reached Hollow Creek before dawn.
The property was surrounded by forest.
A single cabin stood beside the lake.
Smoke rose from its chimney.
Evelyn’s sedan was parked outside.
Ramirez refused to let Claire or Ethan approach.
Agents moved through the trees.
The front door was unlocked.
Inside, they found Evelyn sitting at a dining table.
She was drinking coffee.
No weapon.
No attempt to escape.
She smiled when Ramirez entered.
“You took longer than I expected.”
“Hands on the table.”
Evelyn obeyed.
“Where is Judge Mercer?”
“I imagine Calvin is regretting many of his life choices.”
“Where is he?”
Evelyn looked toward the window.
“Close.”
Agents searched the property.
Behind the cabin was a locked storm cellar.
Judge Mercer was inside.
Dead.
A handgun lay beside him.
At first glance, it appeared to be suicide.
Ramirez did not believe appearances anymore.
Evelyn was arrested.
She requested to speak with Claire.
The request was denied.
Then Evelyn said she would reveal the location of three surviving victims only if Claire listened.
Ramirez reluctantly agreed under surveillance.
Claire entered the interrogation room.
Evelyn sat across from her.
Handcuffed.
Still composed.
“You look like Daniel when you’re angry.”
“Do not say his name.”
“He was talented.”
“You killed him.”
“I approved a problem being solved.”
Claire’s hands curled into fists.
“You call murder solving a problem?”
Evelyn leaned back.
“I call survival survival.”
“Where are the victims?”
Evelyn smiled.
“First, the truth.”
“I don’t want anything from you except locations.”
“You want to know why Richard married you.”
Claire said nothing.
Evelyn continued.
“Daniel took something from Bellweather.”
“The ledger.”
“Before the ledger.”
“What?”
“A list of private accounts.”
Claire frowned.
“Richard believed Daniel gave you access.”
“He didn’t.”
“We realized that eventually.”
“Then why stay married to me?”
“Because of Ethan.”
Claire’s heart pounded.
“What about him?”
Evelyn watched her carefully.
“Daniel created a trust for Ethan.”
“I know.”
“You know about the ordinary trust.”
Claire went still.
“There was another.”
Daniel had quietly inherited shares in a technology company from his father.
Those shares later became extraordinarily valuable.
The trust was now worth nearly ninety million dollars.
Claire stared at Evelyn.
“That’s impossible.”
“It was structured to activate when Ethan turned eighteen.”
Evelyn smiled without warmth.
“Unless both parents died before then.”
Claire understood.
“Then control transfers to the appointed guardian.”
“Correct.”
“And Richard became his stepfather.”
“He was preparing to petition for guardianship after your burial.”
Claire felt sick.
Richard had planned to bury Claire alive.
Then raise Ethan for six more years.
Not because he loved him.
Because Ethan was attached to a fortune.
Evelyn leaned forward.
“Now you understand.”
Claire stood.
“The surviving victims.”
Evelyn gave three addresses.
Agents immediately verified the locations.
Two victims were found alive inside assisted-living facilities under false names.
The third was recovered from a Bellweather-owned apartment.
Evelyn had told the truth.
Then Ramirez entered the room.
“Forensics finished with Mercer.”
Evelyn’s expression changed slightly.
Ramirez continued.
“He didn’t kill himself.”
Claire stared at Evelyn.
Evelyn remained silent.
“The bullet angle is wrong.”
Ramirez placed a photograph on the table.
May you like
“And your fingerprints are on the weapon.”
For the first time, Evelyn Parker stopped smiling.
