Chapter 4 - Margaret Bennett Was Alive
Repair order included signature.
Margaret Bennett.
Could be forged.
Security camera archive unavailable.
But payment card was linked to trust account opened under alias:
Mara Benton.
Mara.
Ethan said he lived with Miss Mara.
Claire’s pulse quickened.
Was Margaret living as Mara?
Investigators traced account.
Mara Benton existed.
Age sixty-two.
Address outside Albany.
When police arrived, home was empty.
Recently vacated.
Inside:
children’s books.
Ethan’s drawings.
Prescription bottles.
And photographs of Claire.
Years of them.
Claire graduating law school.
Claire marrying Paul.
Claire leaving courthouse after divorce.
Claire at father’s memorial.
Someone had watched her life from distance.
Eleanor saw photographs.
Her face collapsed.
“She’s alive.”
Claire turned.
“You knew.”
“No. I hoped.”
“You threatened me away from Ethan.”
“Because I thought whoever was using Mom’s identity had him.”
Again plausible.
Again incomplete.
Ethan identified house.
He lived there with Mara for five months.
Was Mara old?
“Yes.”
Did she look like Claire?
“A little.”
Did she call herself Margaret?
“No.”
What relationship?
“She said she was taking care of me until my mom came back.”
Where was Ethan’s mother?
He did not know.
What was her name?
“Rachel.”
Claire knew no Rachel.
Then Ethan drew Mara.
Gray-brown hair.
Thin face.
Scar near chin.
Claire froze.
Margaret had same scar.
She cut chin falling from bicycle when Claire was young.
Could child know that otherwise?
Then Ethan said Mara had taught him sentence:
“If Claire asks why I hid, tell her I didn’t hide from Claire.”
“Who did she hide from?”
Ethan looked toward Eleanor.
“Her.”
Claire’s eyes hardened.
Eleanor protested.
But Ethan shook head.
“She said Eleanor found her once.”
When?
“Before me.”
Eleanor closed eyes.
Claire whispered:
“You found Mom.”
May you like
Eleanor finally nodded.
“Eleven years ago.”
