Chapter 4 - THE LAST MESSAGE FROM CLAIRE
Claire disappeared eighteen hours before the wedding.
Not publicly.
Publicly, she entered the Bennett estate at 6:20 p.m. for the rehearsal dinner.
Her car never left.
Her phone went dark at 8:11.
Security footage showed Claire walking into her father’s private study.
No footage showed her walking out.
At 9:04, Evelyn received a message from an unknown number.
A photograph.
Claire sitting in a chair.
Alive.
Terrified.
No visible injury.
Beneath it:
YOU WILL TAKE HER PLACE TOMORROW.
Evelyn showed Adrian the message.
His hands shook.
“Why didn’t you call police?”
“I did.”
“What?”
“Not directly.”
She had contacted a federal investigator Claire had already been speaking with.
Special Agent Mara Chen.
Claire had been gathering evidence of financial fraud involving Bennett Capital, Hale Meridian, and a merger scheduled to close three days after the wedding.
Mara told Evelyn:
Do not confront Malcolm.
Do not signal that the switch is discovered.
Keep Claire alive.
We need location.
Evelyn stared at Adrian.
“I was supposed to get through the ceremony, wait for a contact, and leave before tonight.”
“Then why are you here?”
Her face changed.
“The contact never came.”
Adrian looked at the necklace.
“Why wear that?”
Evelyn touched it instinctively.
“June gave it to me.”
“You could have removed it.”
“Yes.”
“Why didn’t you?”
She looked at him.
“Because I was afraid if I took away the last thing that belonged to me, there would be nothing left.”
That answer cut through some of his rage.
May you like
Not all.
Enough.
