Chapter 4 - THE SECRET HER BROTHER HAD BEEN HIDING
Ethan Bennett had always been Clare's safest place.
After their father died, he'd helped her through college, fixed her first apartment, and walked her down the aisle when she married Adrienne.
Now he was sitting beside her outside a police precinct, looking like a man who had run out of lies.
"Ethan."
He stared through the windshield.
"What happened to Dad's company?"
For several seconds, he said nothing.
Then he took a shaky breath.
"Bennett Financial Group didn't collapse because of the market."
Clare felt cold.
"What?"
"Our father discovered money being moved through several private investment accounts."
"What accounts?"
Ethan turned toward her.
"Accounts connected to the Duca family."
Clare stared.
"That's impossible."
"I wish it were."
He rubbed his forehead.
"Dad believed someone was using his company to conceal fraudulent transfers. He planned to report it."
Clare swallowed.
"And?"
"Two weeks later, he suffered a fatal stroke."
She closed her eyes.
Their father's death had destroyed them.
She remembered the hospital.
The machines.
The terrible silence when the doctor told them he was gone.
Ethan continued.
"After the funeral, someone entered Dad's office and removed several files."
"Who?"
"I never found out."
Clare's heart raced.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because I thought the people involved might come after you."
She stared at him.
"So you let me marry into the family connected to Dad's investigation?"
Ethan looked devastated.
"I didn't know Adrienne was involved. I tried to investigate quietly."
"Did you tell him?"
"No."
"Did you tell anyone?"
Ethan hesitated.
"One person."
Clare's stomach tightened.
"Who?"
"Victoria Duca."
She almost laughed.
Not because it was funny.
Because the cruelty of it was unbearable.
"You told Victoria?"
"She approached me after your engagement. She said she'd been trying to clean up old financial problems."
Clare covered her face.
"Oh, Ethan."
"I know."
"She was using you."
He lowered his head.
"I realized that too late."
Clare looked toward the dark precinct windows.
She wanted to scream.
Instead, she asked quietly:
"What did you give her?"
Ethan reached into his jacket.
"A copy of Dad's last financial report."
He handed her a folded document.
Clare opened it.
Several payments were highlighted.
One recipient appeared repeatedly.
V.D. Holdings.
Victoria Duca.
Her hands trembled.
At the bottom, their father had written:
Trust administrator involved. Possible forged authorizations.
Clare stared.
"That's the same trust I've been auditing."
Ethan nodded.
"I know."
She looked up.
"You knew I was investigating it?"
"I found out last month."
"Why didn't you warn me?"
Ethan's voice cracked.
"Because Victoria told me she'd destroy the remaining Bennett accounts if I interfered."
Clare stood.
For the first time in her life, she couldn't bear to look at her brother.
"Clare, please."
She stepped toward the precinct entrance.
Then her phone rang.
An unknown number.
She answered cautiously.
"Hello?"
A woman's voice whispered:
"Mrs. Duca?"
"Yes?"
"This is Evelyn Shaw."
Clare froze.
Victoria's personal assistant.
Evelyn sounded terrified.
"I helped move the diamonds."
Clare gripped the phone.
"Why are you calling me?"
"Because Victoria is planning something worse."
"What?"
Evelyn began crying.
"She doesn't just want you divorced."
May you like
A long pause.
"She wants you dead before you can testify."
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