Chapter 10 - The Brother in Ohio
Julian immediately called Preston again.
No answer.
Again.
Voicemail.
Again.
Nothing.
Rebecca began tracing what she could through our legitimate records while Thomas contacted counsel.
Then my phone rang.
Unknown number.
I answered.
“Claire?”
Preston.
He was whispering.
“Where are you?”
“Ohio.”
“Why are you calling me?”
“Because Mom screwed everything up.”
Julian grabbed the phone.
“YOU STOLE MY MONEY!”
“Julian, shut up and listen!”
That silenced him.
Preston claimed Martin Cole approached him first.
Investment opportunity.
Fast returns.
Private real estate acquisitions.
Eleanor joined later.
They lost money.
Then Martin offered them a way to recover it.
Information.
About me.
My assets.
My routines.
My passwords.
Preston claimed he didn’t know Martin planned to forge documents.
I didn't believe that part.
Then he said:
“Claire, Martin knows about the baby.”
My entire body went cold.
Julian’s anger disappeared.
“What about our baby?”
Preston breathed heavily.
“I don't know.”
“Then why say it?”
“Because he kept asking about your due date.”
Rebecca stepped closer.
“Why?”
“I DON'T KNOW!”
Then there was a sound on Preston’s end.
A door.
He stopped speaking.
“Preston?”
Nothing.
“Preston!”
He whispered:
“Someone’s here.”
The line went dead.
Julian immediately tried calling back.
Nothing.
Then Eleanor’s second phone buzzed on the floor.
A message appeared.
Rebecca picked it up.
No sender name.
Only:
YOU WERE TOLD TO KEEP CLAIRE CALM.
Then another message arrived.
NOW SHE KNOWS.
Julian looked at his mother.
“You knew somebody was watching my wife?”
Eleanor began crying.
But I was no longer looking at her.
I was looking at the fourth bowl of ramen.
The bowl I had set for Thomas.
And suddenly I remembered something.
Thomas wasn’t supposed to arrive until 9:00.
It was only 8:17.
I turned toward him.
May you like
“How did you know to come early?”
The room went silent.
