The Sister Emily Never Met
Chapter 10 - The Sister Emily Never Met
Claire arrived the next morning.
She was forty-three, with the same hazel eyes Emily had inherited from Margaret.
When Lily saw her, she stopped walking.
"You look like Mom."
Claire began crying.
"So do you."
For the first time since Emily's funeral, Lily voluntarily hugged an adult other than Jonathan.
Claire explained everything.
Michael had approached her claiming Emily needed expensive psychiatric treatment.
He said the children's future depended on accessing the trust.
Claire became suspicious.
She contacted Emily privately.
That was how Emily learned about her sister.
The two women spoke secretly for months.
They planned to meet.
But Emily died three days before the meeting.
Claire handed Jonathan printed messages.
Emily had written:
I think Michael married me because he eventually learned about the trust.
Another message:
He keeps asking about Dad's will.
Then:
If something happens to me, promise you will help protect Lily and Noah.
Jonathan couldn't speak.
Claire had kept every message.
She also had something more important.
A voicemail Michael left after Emily's death.
His voice was unmistakable.
"Emily is gone. We need to discuss the trust before Jonathan interferes."
The date was less than two hours after Emily died.
Before Michael notified Jonathan.
Before he called most relatives.
His wife was dead.
And Michael was already discussing money.
The detective listened to the voicemail.
"This gives us motive."
"But not proof," Jonathan said.
"Not yet."
Then Claire remembered their final conversation.
Emily had said she was going to hide a camera in the kitchen.
Jonathan looked up.
"A camera?"
Claire nodded.
"She said Michael kept putting something in her drinks."
Everyone became silent.
Jonathan immediately thought about Emily's phone recording.
Her house had already been searched.
No camera was found.
May you like
Then Lily whispered:
"Mom's clock."
