Chapter 7: The Ally Who Hid The Truth
The look on Claire Morgan's face told me everything before she said a single word.
Fear.
Not guilt.
Not anger.
Fear.
And that was somehow worse.
Because Claire was the one person in this entire nightmare who always seemed impossible to shake.
She was calm when Officer Holloway tried to frame me.
She was confident when my brother confessed.
She was the person who seemed to have every answer.
But now?
She looked like someone who had just watched a secret buried for years finally crawl into the light.
"Olivia," she said quietly.
I stepped back.
"No.""
Her expression softened.
"Listen to me.""
"No.""
My voice echoed through the room.
"I have listened to everyone.""
I looked around.
"My brother lied to me.""
My eyes moved toward my father.
"My father let me believe he was dead.""
Then back to Claire.
"And now I find out the person helping me investigate everything might have been hiding something too.""
Claire took a breath.
"I never wanted you involved.""
I almost smiled.
"That seems to be everyone's favorite excuse.""
She looked down.
"I understand why you're angry.""
"Do you?""
My voice cracked.
"Because I spent two years visiting a grave.""
The room became silent.
Even my father looked away.
Claire closed her eyes for a moment.
Then she said:
"Your father asked me to protect you.""
I froze.
"What?""
Richard Bennett looked at her.
"Claire.""
She looked back at him.
"It's too late.""
Then she turned to me.
"After the night of the accident, your father contacted me.""
My heart raced.
"The night he died?""
She nodded.
"He knew someone inside the foundation was watching him. He knew if he disappeared, they would look for proof. But if everyone believed he was dead...""
"They would stop looking.""
Claire nodded.
"Exactly.""
I shook my head.
"You helped him fake his death.""
"Yes.""
The honesty hurt.
"But I did it because your father believed it was the only way to keep you alive.""
I looked at my father.
"You made that choice.""
His eyes filled with regret.
"I did.""
"You didn't trust me.""
"I trusted you more than anyone.""
"Then why?""
His voice became quiet.
"Because the person trying to destroy us was someone you loved.""
I felt my anger disappear for a second.
Because I understood.
That was the most painful part.
Everyone had made terrible choices because they believed they were protecting something.
But nobody protected me from the pain.
Nathan stepped forward.
"Olivia, there is something else.""
I looked at him.
"What now?""
He hesitated.
"The night Dad disappeared...""
He swallowed.
"I was there.""
My heart stopped.
"What?""
Nathan looked at our father.
"I saw him leave.""
My father nodded.
"Nathan helped me.""
I stared at my brother.
"You let me think you were grieving.""
"I was.""
His voice broke.
"I lost my father that night too.""
I looked away.
Because for the first time, I saw the difference between betrayal and guilt.
Nathan had made mistakes.
But he had been carrying something heavy.
Claire walked toward the table.
"We need to focus.""
She placed the recorder down.
"Your mother mentioned Daniel Cross. But she also mentioned someone else.""
"The person beside me.""
Everyone went quiet.
Claire nodded.
"That was not a random warning.""
My eyes narrowed.
"Who has been beside me?""
Nobody answered.
Then my father looked at me.
"Your assistant.""
I froze.
"Emily?""
The name sounded impossible.
Emily had worked for me for six years.
She knew my schedule.
My meetings.
My private conversations.
She was the person who brought me coffee during sixteen-hour investigation days.
The person who knew when I was exhausted.
The person who knew exactly where I would be tonight.
"No.""
My father's expression was painful.
"Olivia.""
"No.""
I stepped away.
"Emily wouldn't.""
Claire looked at me.
"She had access to the investigation files.""
"Because she helped me.""
"She also had access to your location.""
My stomach tightened.
The traffic stop.
The highway.
The evidence.
Someone knew exactly where I would be.
My phone suddenly buzzed.
Everyone looked at me.
Unknown number.
I answered.
"Hello?""
Nobody spoke.
Then a woman's voice whispered:
"Stop looking for the truth.""
My blood went cold.
"Who is this?""
A pause.
Then:
"You don't know what your father did.""
I looked at Richard.
He immediately understood.
"Olivia, hang up.""
But I didn't.
Because the voice continued.
"If you want to know why your family is falling apart, meet me alone.""
My grip tightened around the phone.
"Who are you?""
The woman whispered:
"Someone who knows what really happened the night Richard Bennett died.""
The call ended.
I stared at the screen.
Claire immediately said:
"You're not going.""
But before anyone could stop me, I noticed something.
A location had been sent.
A place.
A time.
And underneath it was one name.
May you like
The name of the person who wanted to meet me.
Emily Carter.
