Chapter 4 - The Woman in the Black CoatThe police searched Valerie's house from top to bottom.
No broken windows.
No damaged locks.
No missing valuables.
Nothing.
That frightened Valerie more than evidence of a break-in would have.
Whoever had entered her house hadn't needed to force anything.
They had access.
At noon, Detective Harris called.
"Don't go anywhere."
"We're sitting in the living room."
"Good. We're sending officers."
Valerie looked at Thomas.
His face had gone white.
"Mom?"
"I'm here."
Nick sat beside him.
"I shouldn't have come."
Valerie turned.
"Don't say that."
"They're after Thomas because of me."
"No."
Nick lowered his eyes.
"No. They're after him because something is being hidden."
Harris arrived with two officers.
They had barely entered the house when the doorbell rang.
Everyone froze.
An officer opened the door.
A woman stood outside.
She was in her early forties, wearing a black coat.
Valerie recognized her instantly.
Not from real life.
From the recording.
The woman's voice.
The woman who had said, "You said he wouldn't be there."
The stranger looked at Nick.
Then at Thomas.
Then at Valerie.
"My name is Evelyn."
Harris drew his weapon.
"Hands where I can see them."
Evelyn raised both hands.
"I'm not here to hurt anyone."
"Then why are you here?"
"Because Daniel told me this family was finished."
Valerie's stomach dropped.
"What did you do with him?"
"Nothing."
Evelyn looked at Nick.
"I warned him."
Nick stared back.
"You were the woman behind the bakery."
Evelyn nodded.
Valerie stepped forward.
"You knew Nick?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
Evelyn took a slow breath.
"Because Nick's aunt once worked for Daniel."
Valerie's mind went blank.
"What?"
Evelyn continued.
"Daniel met her through a charity program. He learned about Nick's situation. His family troubles. His temporary placement."
Harris's eyes narrowed.
"Are you saying Daniel knew this boy before last night?"
"Yes."
Nick looked stunned.
"You knew my aunt?"
Evelyn shook her head.
"No. Daniel did."
Valerie stepped backward.
Everything suddenly shifted.
Nick hadn't wandered into their lives.
Daniel had known about him.
Had known where he slept.
Had known he was vulnerable.
But why?
Harris asked the question Valerie could no longer form.
"Why would Daniel arrange for a homeless child to be near his family?"
Evelyn's expression darkened.
"Because Daniel wanted a witness."
Valerie's voice broke.
"A witness to what?"
Evelyn looked at Thomas.
"To his own son's disappearance."
Everyone froze.
Thomas whispered,
"What?"
Evelyn's eyes softened.
"Daniel had planned to make it look like you ran away."
Valerie covered her mouth.
"Why?"
"Because if you ran away, Valerie would be devastated. But Daniel could claim he had done everything possible to find you."
Harris stared.
"That doesn't explain the money."
"It does."
Evelyn pulled out a folder.
"Daniel intended to move Valerie's business assets into an offshore account."
She placed the folder on the table.
"Then he planned to report Thomas missing."
Valerie felt sick.
"He would have kept the money while pretending to search for our son."
Evelyn nodded.
"But something changed."
"Nick."
"Yes."
Nick stared at the floor.
Evelyn whispered,
"He was never supposed to interfere."
Valerie looked at him.
"The fight wasn't planned."
"No."
"Then why did Daniel attack him?"
"Because Daniel panicked."
Evelyn's voice became quieter.
"He knew Nick had seen too much."
Harris opened the folder.
Inside were photographs.
Bank statements.
A map.
And one picture of Thomas leaving school.
Valerie stared.
"How long has he been watching him?"
"Months."
Her hands began to shake.
Then she noticed another photograph.
A woman stood beside Daniel.
Valerie recognized her.
She had seen her before.
At a fundraising dinner.
At the office.
At a restaurant.
Her eyes widened.
"That's..."
Evelyn nodded.
"That's the woman in the recording."
Valerie whispered her name.
"Claire."
Harris looked up.
"Who is Claire?"
Valerie couldn't answer.
Because suddenly she remembered something.
Claire wasn't a stranger.
May you like
Claire was her closest friend.
And Claire had keys to the house.
