Chương 3 - The Signature
“Don't move,” one of the officers said.
Ethan stopped.
Every head in the ballroom seemed to turn toward him.
He gave a slow, incredulous smile. “You think I forged Evelyn's signature?”
Martin said, “I think Richard thought you did.”
“That isn't evidence.”
“No,” Martin replied. “But this might be.”
He produced another page.
A security-access log from the Cross Foundation's downtown office.
Ethan's badge had entered the accounting floor at 2:13 a.m. on three separate nights.
Evelyn stared at the dates.
All three nights, Ethan had told her he was in New York.
“You lied to me.”
Ethan faced her. “About being in New York, yes.”
The honesty stunned her more than another denial would have.
“Why?”
“Because your father asked me to investigate the theft quietly.”
Martin's eyes narrowed. “Richard never told me that.”
“He didn't trust you.”
Martin's mouth tightened.
Claire laughed under her breath. “And now we get to the part where everyone admits they were lying for noble reasons.”
Evelyn turned on her. “You don't get to talk about noble reasons.”
Claire's cheek was pink where Evelyn had struck her. Her eyes were bright with anger.
“You think I'm the villain because of one clinic form?”
“You were listed as his spouse.”
Claire looked at Ethan.
He said nothing.
Evelyn felt the floor tilt.
“Tell her,” Claire said.
Ethan's face went cold.
“Not now.”
“Tell me what?”
Claire's expression changed. The anger faded. Something like pain replaced it.
“We were married.”
The ballroom disappeared around Evelyn.
She heard only those three words.
We were married.
Ethan said, “For six weeks.”
Claire looked at him with disgust. “Eight.”
Evelyn's fingers went numb around the envelope.
“When?”
“Four years ago,” Ethan said. “Before I met you.”
“Why did the clinic list her as your spouse seventeen months ago?”
He hesitated.
That hesitation was answer enough.
Claire folded her arms. “Because he never updated the records.”
“Then why were you together at the Halston office three months ago?” Evelyn asked.
Claire blinked.
Ethan's head snapped toward her.
So neither of them had known about the photographs.
Good.
Evelyn pulled one out.
Claire and Ethan stood outside Halston Asset Management at 11:48 p.m.
Ethan's hand was on Claire's shoulder.
Claire looked like she had been crying.
Evelyn held up the photo.
“Explain this.”
Ethan said, “I can.”
Claire said, “No, you can't.”
Martin interrupted. “Halston Asset Management received two of the stolen transfers.”
Evelyn slowly turned toward Claire.
Claire closed her eyes.
May you like
Then she said the one thing nobody expected.
“I sent the envelope.”
