Chapter 16 - Margaret Whitcomb

Margaret Whitcomb had spent fifteen years playing the quiet wife.

Caleb had never considered her dangerous.

That was exactly why she was.

Police interviewed her at the family home.

She denied using the trust phone.

Then technicians matched her biometric unlock logs.

"I was protecting my husband."

Detective Ortiz asked, "By helping him frame your son?"

"I never agreed to hurt Sophie."

"But you knew about the guardianship plan."

"Yes."

Caleb watched through glass.

His mother looked older than he remembered.

"Did you know about Julia's crash?"

"I knew Malcolm wanted the documents."

"Did you know Derek would interfere with the vehicle?"

"No."

"Did you know your husband delayed 911?"

"Yes."

"Wait."

Ortiz asked, "Why didn't you tell police?"

Margaret whispered, "Because by then Julia was dead."

Caleb almost walked through the glass.

Too late to save her, so save the family.

Ortiz showed Margaret the M2 messages.

"‘He will believe what he sees.' What did that mean?"

Margaret stared at the table.

"Malcolm said Caleb trusted his eyes more than people."

"What did you do?"

"I told Helen when Caleb would be easiest to redirect."

"You helped time the incident."

"Yes."

"Who contaminated the lavender onesie?"

Margaret looked genuinely confused.

"I don't know."

Because the rash had made the scene convincing.

Someone had gone beyond Malcolm's plan.

"Was it Derek?"

"I don't know."

"Malcolm?"

"No."

"How can you be sure?"

"Because Malcolm wanted a mark. Not an injury."

Caleb felt sick at the distinction.

Something he would see and judge instantly.

"Helen told me the onesie came from a package delivered that morning."

"From whom?"

"She said it was a gift from Julia's side of the family."

FROM AUNT LAUREN.

Julia did not have a sister named Lauren.

Security footage showed a courier.

The courier was identified within hours.

Derek had claimed the steering command was an accident.

Now he had added the chemical irritant that made Sophie's skin red.

He had escalated Malcolm's plan.

And Malcolm had not known.

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