Chapter 4 - THE AUNT WHO DISAPPEARED
Ethan had never met Rebecca Parker.
He had barely heard her name.
Whenever he asked about his mother’s family, Claire always changed the subject.
Now he understood why.
Rebecca had vanished from Claire’s life fourteen years earlier.
“She blamed me for everything,” Claire explained.
Their father, Samuel Parker, had built a successful construction company.
Rebecca expected to inherit it.
But Samuel discovered she had been stealing money from the business.
He removed her from the company.
Rebecca believed Claire had convinced him.
“I didn’t.”
Claire looked at Ethan.
“But she never believed me.”
After that, Rebecca disappeared.
No calls.
No birthdays.
No Christmas cards.
Nothing.
Until Richard found her.
Detective Bennett believed the connection had started almost a year earlier.
Phone records showed dozens of calls between Richard and a number registered to a shell company.
That company belonged to Victor Cole.
Financial investigators found another connection.
Rebecca had received payments from the same company.
Ethan stared at his mother.
“So Aunt Rebecca helped put you in that coffin?”
Claire closed her eyes.
“I think so.”
That afternoon, police searched Richard and Claire’s house.
Ethan was not allowed inside.
Bennett returned hours later carrying a clear evidence bag.
Inside was a small digital recorder.
“We found this behind a loose panel in Richard’s office.”
Claire frowned.
“I’ve never seen it.”
Bennett pressed play.
Richard’s voice filled the hospital room.
“When the trust releases the money, we divide it exactly as agreed.”
Victor answered.
“Forty percent to you.”
“Thirty to Rebecca.”
“And thirty to me.”
Rebecca’s voice came next.
“What about the boy?”
Ethan stopped breathing.
Richard answered without hesitation.
“He becomes my responsibility after Claire’s death.”
Rebecca laughed softly.
“For how long?”
A pause followed.
Then Richard said something that made Claire grip the edge of the bed.
“Not long.”
Bennett stopped the recording.
Ethan stared at her.
“What did he mean?”
Claire pulled Ethan closer.
Bennett’s expression hardened.
“It means you don’t go anywhere alone.”
Officers were placed outside Claire’s room.
Another was assigned to Ethan.
Richard was no longer just wanted for what had happened to Claire.
Police now believed Ethan could also be in danger.
That evening, Bennett returned with another discovery.
Richard’s laptop contained a reservation.
Two airline tickets.
Denver to Mexico City.
Saturday morning.
One ticket belonged to Richard.
The second carried Ethan’s name.
Claire stared at the screen.
“He was going to take my son.”
Bennett nodded.
“But he didn’t plan to stay in Mexico.”
A second reservation had been found.
Only one ticket continued south.
May you like
Richard’s.
Ethan’s ticket ended in Mexico City.
