Chapter 5 - The Housekeeper
Daniel spun toward the sound.
Vanessa gasped.
Claire did not move.
The pantry door swung wider.
A woman stepped out.
Maria Alvarez.
Their housekeeper.
Sixty-two.
Five feet tall.
Gray hair pinned back.
Holding a broken ceramic bowl in one hand and Claire’s old tablet in the other.
“Maria?” Daniel said.
She looked terrified.
But she looked at Claire, not Daniel.
“I’m sorry.”
Daniel’s face darkened.
“What are you doing here?”
Maria swallowed.
“Working.”
“At midnight?”
“You told me to clean after dinner.”
“No, I didn’t.”
“Yes. You did.”
Daniel took one step toward her.
Maria lifted the tablet.
“I heard you.”
Vanessa’s face drained.
Daniel stopped.
“Heard what?”
Maria’s hand shook.
Claire understood before anyone said it.
The messages.
The warnings.
Maria had sent them.
Claire moved beside her.
“Did you take that garage picture?”
Maria nodded.
“When?”
“Last Tuesday.”
Daniel exhaled slowly.
“Give me the tablet.”
Maria backed away.
“No.”
“Maria.”
“No.”
It was the first time Claire had ever heard her defy him.
Daniel looked at Claire.
“This is ridiculous. She’s confused.”
Maria gave a bitter laugh.
“You use that word for everybody.”
Daniel’s jaw flexed.
Maria unlocked the tablet.
“There are recordings.”
Vanessa whispered, “Daniel.”
He snapped, “Stop saying my name.”
Maria opened a file.
Daniel’s voice played through the kitchen.
“We need the signature before Friday. Once the incapacity filing is active, Claire can’t block the transfer.”
Then Vanessa’s voice:
“And after?”
Daniel:
“After, I handle everything.”
Claire stared at him.
Transfer.
“What transfer?”
Daniel did not answer.
The next minutes moved fast, and every answer only exposed a deeper part of Daniel’s plan.
“That’s a lie.”
“It isn’t.”
“My father died with no debt.”
Daniel laughed quietly.
“Your father died with secrets.”
Claire’s phone rang.
The screen showed one name.
OWEN WHITMORE.
Claire’s brother.
Daniel stared at it.
Maria whispered, “Answer.”
Claire did.
Owen was crying.
“Claire, don’t sign anything. Dad didn’t die of a heart attack.”
Daniel reached for the phone.
Claire stepped back.
May you like
Owen’s next words stopped everyone.
“I found the hospital report Daniel paid to bury.”
