Chapter 6 - THE PRESCRIPTION IN CLAIRE'S NAME
I stood so fast the chair fell.
“No.”
Claire didn't react.
That scared me.
“You knew?”
“Yes.”
“When?”
“Three months ago.”
“And you said nothing?”
“I was waiting to understand how.”
The prescription was filled at a pharmacy in Evanston.
Claire had never used it.
The signature looked like hers.
The insurance information was hers.
Someone had copied everything perfectly.
She pulled out old records.
Eight years earlier, Claire volunteered for a hospital fundraiser.
One of the organizers had access to her insurance card.
Vanessa.
I turned.
Vanessa looked horrified.
“I didn't do that.”
Claire nodded.
“I know.”
Of course she knew more.
The fundraiser database had been managed by Morgan Foundation employees.
Specifically Peter's assistant at the time.
Laura Mendel.
Laura died six years ago.
Car accident.
Another convenient death.
Federal investigators began pulling records.
Laura had also created several shell entities used by Peter.
Not because she owned them.
Because someone used her credentials.
Claire said:
“Peter liked dead people.”
“What?”
“They can't deny signatures.”
My stomach turned.
He had used deceased employees, contractors, maybe clients as legal shields.
One fake approval led to another.
The prescription tied Claire to Robert's death if anyone investigated.
Why?
Because Robert liked Claire.
More than he liked either son.
Everyone knew.
If he died, and Claire's name appeared on the drug purchase, suspicion could shift toward her.
Then I remembered the will.
My father had left Claire a strange bequest.
One voting share in Morgan Infrastructure.
Almost symbolic.
At the time, I joked he trusted her more than us.
Maybe that share wasn't symbolic.
Claire thought so too.
She retrieved Robert's estate documents.
The voting share carried a clause.
If both sons were deemed legally unfit to control the company due to fraud or criminal conduct, Claire's single share converted into temporary voting control pending independent review.
I stared.
“My father made you a failsafe.”
“Yes.”
“Did Peter know?”
“Not until four months ago.”
Everything suddenly aligned.
Claire discovered Peter's fraud.
Peter discovered Claire could take temporary control if his scheme surfaced.
So he needed to discredit her.
Maybe frame her.
Maybe kill Robert years earlier and prepare a future suspect.
Then Claire said something I wasn't prepared for.
“Peter knew about your affair before I did.”
Of course he did.
Vanessa had been reporting to the trust.
But Peter had his own surveillance.
Why allow it?
Because my affair gave him leverage.
If the company collapsed, I would look distracted, compromised, careless.
Which I was.
My phone buzzed.
Unknown number.
I answered.
Peter.
“Daniel.”
His voice sounded exhausted.
“Where are you?”
“Federal custody would be my guess soon.”
He laughed softly.
“You still think Claire is saving you.”
I looked at her.
“What do you mean?”
“She isn't.”
“Then why did she lead me to the evidence?”
Peter paused.
“Because she needs you angry enough to destroy me.”
“That doesn't make her wrong.”
“No.”
His tone changed.
“But ask her why she kept one box out of the cabin inventory.”
I stared at Claire.
Her face remained still.
“What box?”
Peter whispered:
“The one labeled VANCE.”
Then hung up.
Claire closed her eyes.
For the first time, she looked afraid.
Not of Peter.
Of me.
“Who is Vance?” I asked.
May you like
She answered:
“My brother.”
