Chapter 7
The money trail was ugly but not spectacular.
That made it more believable.
Marcus had not stolen millions into a secret offshore account.
He had done something smaller and more familiar.
He steered restoration work toward two companies controlled by longtime associates.
Prices were inflated.
Change orders multiplied.
Marcus received favors in return.
A discounted renovation at his house.
A leased vehicle.
Payments toward a private debt.
Enough to ruin him professionally.
Enough to embarrass Lucinda.
Not enough, Andrew thought, to explain risking Elena’s life.
Rachel agreed.
“Financial motive explains why Marcus wanted her quiet.”
“But not why Lucinda drugged her repeatedly.”
“Correct.”
Andrew looked at the documents.
“What are we missing?”
“Probably something personal.”
That answer bothered him more.
The Caruso family could explain money.
Money was simple.
Personal motives were where people became unpredictable.
Then Alex gave them another piece.
He was playing on the library carpet while Andrew worked.
The stuffed rabbit sat beside him.
Andrew accidentally dropped a pen.
It rolled under the table.
Alex crawled after it.
When he came back, he whispered:
“Mommy bag.”
Andrew looked up.
“What about Mommy’s bag?”
Rachel Monroe was not there.
Andrew almost asked more.
Then he remembered her instructions.
“Do you want to show me?”
Alex stood.
He walked upstairs.
Andrew followed several steps behind.
Alex entered Elena’s closet.
Most of her belongings remained where they had been.
Andrew had never found the courage to clear them.
Alex pointed toward a shelf.
“Green bag.”
A small canvas archive tote sat behind two hatboxes.
Andrew took it down.
Inside were ordinary things.
An old foundation program.
A charging cable.
Lip balm.
A folded museum map.
And an envelope addressed to someone Andrew knew.
Megan Doyle.
Elena’s younger sister.
Andrew stared at the name.
Megan had moved to Seattle years earlier.
She and Andrew had never liked each other.
After Elena died, Megan attended the funeral and left the next morning.
They had not spoken since.
The envelope had never been mailed.
Andrew did not open it.
It was sealed and addressed to Megan.
He called Rachel.
Then he called Megan.
She answered after four rings.
“Andrew?”
“I found a letter Elena wrote to you.”
Silence.
Andrew continued.
“I need to ask you something about the week she died.”
Megan’s voice changed.
“Does this have something to do with Alex?”
Andrew looked toward his son.
“How did you know?”
Megan did not answer immediately.
May you like
Then she said:
“Because Elena was trying to get him out.”
