Chapter 12 - Husband and Wife
I did not move.
Claire studied my face.
Then she laughed.
“You’re terrible at lying.”
I said nothing.
“How much do you know?”
“Enough.”
“That isn’t an answer.”
“Neither was our marriage.”
Her smile disappeared.
For the first time, I saw the real Claire without a disguise.
No warmth.
No affection.
No nervousness.
Only calculation.
“You should have stayed in Chicago.”
“You should have left my children alone.”
“Our children?”
She laughed.
“That’s complicated now.”
“Where is Elena?”
Something flickered in her expression.
I had hit something.
“So you found the clinic.”
“Where is she?”
Claire walked toward me.
“Do you know what your biggest weakness has always been?”
I remained silent.
“You think money makes you powerful.”
She touched my chest.
“It doesn’t.”
“Information makes people powerful.”
“And I know everything about you.”
“Your accounts.”
“Your childhood.”
“Your habits.”
“Your fears.”
“Your medications.”
I grabbed her wrist.
She looked down.
Then smiled.
“There.”
My grip loosened.
“What?”
“That.”
She nodded toward the ceiling.
I followed her eyes.
A tiny camera was hidden inside the smoke detector.
My hand immediately released her.
Claire laughed.
“Thank you.”
Rage flooded through me.
She had baited me.
Exactly as Mara warned.
Claire stepped back.
“Tomorrow night, people will finally understand how dangerous you are.”
“Who’s going to believe you?”
“Everyone.”
She looked almost sad.
“I have recordings.”
“Medical evaluations.”
“Witnesses.”
“Police reports.”
“You don’t have police reports.”
“Not yet.”
Then she walked toward the door.
I blocked her.
Claire raised one eyebrow.
“Careful.”
I stepped aside.
Before leaving, she turned.
“You want to know where Elena is?”
My heart slammed.
“Yes.”
Claire smiled.
“Ask Mara.”
Then she closed the door.
I found Mara ten minutes later.
When I repeated Claire’s words, Mara started crying.
“I didn’t want to tell you.”
“Tell me what?”
May you like
She wiped her face.
“Elena is my sister.”
