Chapter 5 - THE REPORT THAT CHANGED ANNA'S DEATH
Anna had died in a car crash.
That was what Billy had believed for four years.
The police report said her vehicle left the road during heavy rain.
There was no evidence of another vehicle.
No witness who could explain why she lost control.
And no reason, according to the original investigation, to suspect anything other than an accident.
Now a medical report had appeared inside a box connected to Sabine Voss.
Billy sat beside her mother in their Dorchester kitchen.
Deardra held the report with trembling hands.
"These bruises," she whispered.
Billy looked down.
The document described injuries on Anna's upper arms.
Injuries recorded three days before the fatal crash.
"She never told us."
Deardra closed her eyes.
"She told me someone grabbed her."
Billy went still.
"What?"
Her mother began crying.
"Anna came home after meeting Sabine. She said the argument got ugly."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because she made me promise."
Billy swallowed.
"Mom..."
Deardra looked toward the sewing machine.
"She said somebody threatened to ruin our family if she kept demanding credit."
Billy felt anger rising.
For four years, she'd believed her mother didn't know anything beyond what the investigators already had.
Now she was discovering Deardra had been carrying another secret.
"Who grabbed Anna?"
Deardra hesitated.
"I never saw him."
"Him?"
Her mother nodded.
"Anna said Sabine's business partner was there."
Billy's stomach tightened.
"Who?"
Before Deardra could answer, the front doorbell rang.
Billy looked toward the clock.
Nearly ten at night.
Nobody visited that late.
She moved toward the window.
A black sedan stood at the curb.
A man in a gray coat waited on the porch.
Billy recognized him immediately.
Gideon Puit.
The Windmir manager.
She reached for her phone.
Then Gideon spoke through the door.
"Billy, I know you're inside."
Her mother gripped her wheelchair.
"What does he want?"
Billy didn't answer.
Gideon continued.
"I came to return something that belonged to Anna."
Billy froze.
"What?"
"A notebook."
He hesitated.
"She gave it to me before the accident."
Billy looked toward the street.
Two people were sitting inside the sedan.
She didn't open the door.
Instead, she asked him to leave the notebook with the attorney handling the investigation.
Gideon remained silent for several seconds.
Then he whispered something through the wood.
"Your sister found out who owns Sabine's foundation."
Billy's heart raced.
"Who?"
Gideon's answer made her knees weaken.
May you like
"Rafe Santangelo."
And according to Gideon, the organization behind the stolen designs had been operating through companies connected to Rafe's family for years.
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