Chapter 5 - THE SECRET ACCOUNT
The property records arrived four days later.
Briar Lake Properties had been formed eleven months earlier.
Its listed managers were Rachel and Michael.
My stomach twisted.
The company had entered into an agreement to sell development rights connected to the cottage property.
The proposed buyer was a regional resort developer.
The projected payment was substantial.
But the agreement depended on clear ownership of the property.
And my half-interest had supposedly been transferred into Briar Lake Properties.
I stared at the documents.
“Why would they do this?”
Evelyn studied the records.
“Money appears to be a significant motive.”
I shook my head.
“Michael has a good job.”
“What does he do?”
“He manages commercial construction projects.”
Evelyn looked up.
“Does he have access to development contacts?”
“Yes.”
She nodded slowly.
“That may explain the connection.”
Then she showed me another document.
A preliminary payment had already been made to Briar Lake Properties.
One hundred twenty-five thousand dollars.
I stared.
“Where did it go?”
“We're still tracing it.”
I thought about Rachel.
Her new car.
Her expensive handbags.
The sudden kitchen renovation.
The anniversary party.
I felt sick.
My sister had spent months complaining that Tom wasn't ambitious enough.
That he didn't earn enough.
That he couldn't give her the lifestyle she deserved.
And all the while, she had been secretly receiving money from a deal involving our father's property.
I called Tom.
He answered immediately.
“Claire?”
“We need to talk.”
He exhaled.
“I know.”
I looked at the documents.
“Did you know about the money?”
Silence.
Then he said:
“Not until last month.”
I closed my eyes.
“What else do you know?”
He hesitated.
“Claire, there's something I haven't told you.”
My heart tightened.
“What?”
“Rachel didn't start the affair because she loved Michael.”
I stared at the wall.
“Then why?”
May you like
Tom's voice broke.
“Because she wanted what you had.”
