Chapter 5
Marcus arrived at Andrew’s house that evening.
Uninvited.
Rachel Stein was already there.
That was the only reason Andrew allowed him inside.
Marcus did not bother with pleasantries.
“My mother told me you’re digging through Elena’s death.”
Andrew stared at him.
“Your mother?”
Marcus’s jaw tightened.
He had made the mistake immediately.
Lucinda had already told him about Andrew’s questions.
“How quickly did she call you?”
“That’s irrelevant.”
“Not to me.”
Marcus sat down.
“I’m telling you to think about Alex.”
Andrew laughed once.
“Now?”
“You’re reopening the worst night of his life.”
“He reopened it.”
“He’s three.”
“So everyone keeps reminding me.”
Marcus leaned forward.
“You want the truth? Elena was unstable near the end.”
Andrew stood.
Rachel immediately said his name.
He remained where he was.
Marcus continued.
“She was exhausted. Angry. Suspicious of everybody. She thought people were using the foundation.”
“Were they?”
Marcus looked away for less than a second.
Andrew caught it.
“What did Elena find?”
“Nothing.”
“Marcus.”
“She questioned expenses.”
“What expenses?”
“Restoration work.”
The radio archive had spent nearly four million dollars restoring deteriorating storage rooms and electrical systems over the previous two years.
Marcus had overseen several contractors.
Elena had begun reviewing those contracts shortly before she died.
Andrew had known about disagreements.
He had never cared enough to read the details.
Marcus leaned back.
“She accused me of favoring people I knew.”
“Did you?”
“Yes.”
The admission surprised Andrew.
“Two vendors were friends. Their prices were competitive.”
“Then why hide it?”
“I didn’t hide it.”
“Elena thought you did.”
“Elena thought everyone was hiding things.”
The sentence hung in the room.
Andrew studied him.
“Did she know Lucinda was putting something in her drinks?”
Marcus stood.
“We’re done.”
Andrew stepped between him and the door.
Not touching him.
Not threatening him.
Just standing there.
Marcus stopped.
Rachel spoke.
“Andrew.”
Andrew moved aside.
Marcus opened the door.
Before leaving, he turned.
“You know what your problem is?”
Andrew waited.
“You've spent eight months turning Elena into a saint because she died.”
Andrew’s expression did not change.
Marcus continued.
“She had secrets too.”
Then he left.
Rachel waited until the door closed.
“That was intentional.”
Andrew nodded.
“He wants me angry at Elena.”
“Or curious.”
Andrew looked toward the stairs.
Alex was asleep.
He thought about Elena’s private recording.
Her changed speech.
Her questions about foundation spending.
And Marcus’s final sentence.
She had secrets too.
Andrew realized something he had resisted since the investigation began.
May you like
Finding the truth might not restore the wife he remembered.
It might destroy that memory too.
