Chapter 7 - Why Margaret Threatened Claire
Margaret admitted it.
She had called Claire anonymously.
“Stop moving the old woman.”
Why frighten her own protector?
Because Margaret no longer trusted Claire.
Why?
Four months earlier Claire moved Margaret from Boston safe house to Portland.
Two days later someone searched Boston location.
That implied move leaked.
Could have been Claire.
Then Portland was compromised six weeks later.
Again Claire had known.
Margaret began testing her.
She sent false location to Claire.
Within twenty-four hours someone appeared there.
So Margaret concluded Claire was leaking information.
Claire looked devastated.
“I wasn’t.”
Then how did leak occur?
Claire’s phone had spyware.
Installed through wedding planning app.
Forensic analysis confirmed.
Someone was tracking messages.
Claire had unknowingly exposed Margaret.
That cleared one suspicion.
Who installed spyware?
App had malicious profile pushed from account administrator.
Wedding coordinator:
Sophie Grant.
Sophie had no obvious Hale connection.
Police interviewed.
She admitted being paid to add “guest management tool” supplied by client representative.
Who?
David’s uncle Robert.
Suspicion shifted.
Robert said he wanted security access for high-profile wedding.
He did not know tool contained spyware.
Could be true.
Vendor traced to private intelligence firm.
Client:
Hale Foundation Legal.
Authorized by foundation counsel, Stephen Ward.
Stephen disappeared after wedding incident.
Now mastermind candidate.
But too early.
Margaret had another revelation.
She had not wanted Lily to believe she was dead.
Claire had told Lily grandmother had died eleven months ago because entire family believed it.
That was ordinary.
Before wedding, Margaret contacted Lily directly because she feared adults would intercept.
Was that appropriate?
No.
David told mother:
“You used my seven-year-old daughter to expose Claire.”
Margaret cried.
“I know.”
“You scared her.”
“I thought Claire was betraying me.”
“You were wrong.”
“Yes.”
Again adults using child.
Lily would not be used again.
Then Margaret finally told location:
Silver Pines.
Police arrived.
Room empty.
Fresh tea.
Open window.
No signs struggle.
Margaret gone.
On table:
wedding invitation.
Claire’s name circled.
And beneath it:
SHE IS NOT THE BRIDE ANNA WARNED YOU ABOUT.
David stared.
Anna had warned Margaret about a bride?
Claire looked confused.
Then David remembered something.
Anna died before he ever met Claire.
May you like
So whoever Anna meant—
it could not have been Claire.
