Chapter 4 - THE MISTRESS WAS NOT AS LOYAL AS HE THOUGHT
Gretchen Vale lasted twelve days.
That was how long it took before she hired her own lawyer.
I almost laughed when Monica told me.
“What changed?”
“Brandon.”
Of course.
Once the insurance carrier delayed any claim pending the investigation and my legal status remained unresolved, Brandon’s promises became worthless.
He could not access my shares.
Could not collect the policy.
Could not fully control my trust.
He began blaming Gretchen.
Messages showed it.
You were supposed to make sure nobody saw us.
Then:
If anyone asks, you left before Emily and I continued up the trail.
Gretchen replied:
That is not what happened.
Brandon:
Then remember better.
Classic Brandon.
Reality became something other people were expected to edit for him.
Gretchen’s lawyer contacted investigators.
She wanted a cooperation agreement considered.
Again, not instant immunity.
She had been at the cliff.
Possibly involved.
Her conduct needed investigation.
But she began talking.
According to Gretchen, she knew Brandon planned to frighten me into signing new trust documents during the trip.
That was her first version.
She claimed she did not know he intended to push me.
Then investigators confronted her with messages.
One week before Montana:
Gretchen:
What if she doesn’t go near the edge?
Brandon:
She will.
Another:
Gretchen:
I can’t be the one touching her.
That sentence destroyed the innocent-assistant story.
She cried.
Changed her account.
Admitted Brandon had discussed “making the accident happen.”
She insisted she never agreed to physically harm me.
She did agree to help create the alibi.
To tell people I was reckless.
To support the claim I insisted on hiking.
To say Brandon tried to save me.
She also admitted something I never expected.
The trip was not the first plan.
Brandon originally wanted my death to look medical.
He had explored whether my pregnancy complications could be manipulated into a fatal emergency.
No evidence showed anyone actually altered my medical treatment.
But he eventually decided there were too many doctors.
Too many records.
Too many variables.
So he chose the mountain.
Simpler.
Isolated.
Accident.
Then Gretchen said:
“He thought the baby made it easier.”
My ears rang.
“What does that mean?”
Monica hesitated.
I insisted.
Gretchen said Brandon believed the public would never suspect a man of intentionally killing his heavily pregnant wife because the crime seemed too monstrous.
People would assume accident because the alternative felt unbelievable.
That was his real strategy.
Not perfect evidence.
Human denial.
I looked at Lucas.
Tiny.
Sleeping.
And understood something important.
Brandon did not underestimate me.
He underestimated everyone.
Rescuers.
Doctors.
Investigators.
Insurance analysts.
Bankers.
Gretchen.
He believed every institution would accept the easiest story.
Just as I had accepted the easiest story about our marriage.
That he loved me.
That his financial control was expertise.
That Gretchen was only his assistant.
That the insurance increase was responsible planning.
We had all been living inside Brandon’s preferred explanation.
May you like
Then evidence entered the room.
And explanations began dying.
