Chapter 8 - Claire Brings Sarah’s Final Recording
Ethan let Claire in.
Nathan cursed through the laptop.
Claire entered the living room calmly.
She looked older than Ethan remembered.
Not physically.
Tired in a way expensive clothes could not hide.
She saw Nathan on the screen.
“So you finally called him.”
Nathan stared back.
“So you finally stopped hiding.”
Claire set down the briefcase.
Madeline stood near Lily.
Ethan remained between everyone.
“Are you my sister?”
Claire looked at him.
“Yes.”
No denial.
No performance.
Just one word.
Ethan nodded slowly.
“Did you kill Sarah?”
Claire’s face broke.
“No.”
“Did you follow her that night?”
“Yes.”
Madeline stepped forward.
“I saw your SUV.”
Claire nodded.
“You did.”
“Then what happened?”
Claire opened the briefcase.
Inside was an old tablet.
She turned it on.
A video appeared.
Sarah.
Recorded inside a car.
Timestamped forty-eight minutes before the crash.
Sarah looked terrified.
“Claire says she can get me out.”
Ethan stared.
Claire remained silent.
Sarah continued.
“Nathan thinks Claire is still working for Richard. He’s wrong about one thing.”
Nathan’s face tightened on the laptop.
“Claire is trying to help.”
Sarah looked into the camera.
“But she won’t tell me everything.”
The recording jumped.
A second clip.
Sarah was crying.
“Richard found out about the ledger. Claire says I need to leave tonight.”
Ethan whispered, “Why didn’t she come to me?”
Claire answered.
“Because Richard had already convinced Sarah your phone was compromised.”
Sarah continued.
“If Ethan ever sees this, I’m sorry.”
Ethan’s eyes filled.
“I wanted to tell you.”
The video ended.
Claire looked at him.
“I followed Sarah because I was supposed to lead her to a safe house.”
Madeline stared.
“Then why did her car crash?”
Claire closed her eyes.
“Because someone hit her.”
Silence.
Ethan’s voice dropped.
“Who?”
Claire looked at Nathan.
Nathan’s face changed.
“No.”
Ethan turned toward the screen.
Claire continued.
“The black SUV Madeline saw was mine.”
“So?”
“There was another car behind me.”
Nathan shook his head.
“Claire.”
“A silver sedan.”
Nathan disconnected.
The screen went black.
Ethan stared.
Claire looked at him.
“The sedan belonged to Nathan.”
Madeline covered her mouth.
Ethan felt his chest tighten.
“You’re saying my brother killed Sarah?”
“No.”
Claire shook her head.
“I’m saying he was there.”
Ethan grabbed his phone and called Nathan.
No answer.
Again.
Nothing.
Claire opened the briefcase further.
Inside was a police evidence photograph.
Sarah’s car.
The rear left side showed impact damage.
Paint transfer.
Silver.
Claire whispered, “Nathan told everyone he was in Vermont that night.”
Ethan stared.
“He wasn’t.”
Madeline’s voice trembled.
“Then why has he been hiding?”
May you like
Claire looked toward the bicycle.
“Because Nathan is the reason Sarah had to run in the first place.”
