Chapter 8: The Truth About Claire
I didn’t click the video.
Not immediately.
Because I already knew what it was.
Another weapon.
Another attempt to make me doubt someone.
But eventually, curiosity won.
The screen flickered.
A video began.
Marcus appeared.
He was sitting in a dark room.
“Ethan,” he said, “if you’re watching this, Claire already told you she was protecting your father.””
I looked at Claire.
Her face went pale.
Marcus continued.
“She will tell you she had no choice.””
The video paused.
Then he smiled.
“But ask yourself one question.””
He leaned closer.
“Why was she the only person with Daniel when he died?””
The video ended.
I looked at Claire.
“Were you there?””
She didn’t answer.
That was enough.
“You were.””
“Yes.””
“Why didn’t you tell me?””
“Because Daniel asked me not to.””
I was tired of hearing those words.
“Everyone keeps saying my father wanted this. My father wanted that. What did he actually tell you?””
Claire sat down.
Then she finally broke.
“He called me forty minutes before the crash.””
I waited.
“He sounded scared.””
“What did he say?””
She wiped her eyes.
“He said, ‘Claire, if anything happens, Ethan cannot know until he’s safe.’”
I frowned.
“Safe from who?””
She looked at me.
“From the person inside our family.””
The answer chilled me.
“Our family?””
She nodded.
“Your father believed the person helping Marcus was someone we both trusted.””
“Who?””
“I don’t know.””
“Then why does Marcus keep saying you’re the problem?””
Claire looked down.
“Because I was the last person your father spoke to.””
I studied her.
“What happened that night?””
She took a deep breath.
“I followed Daniel.””
“Why?””
“Because he asked me to.””
That surprised me.
“He asked you?””
“Yes.””
Claire’s voice shook.
“He told me not to tell you. He said if Marcus realized you knew anything, you would become a target.””
“So you followed him.””
“Yes.””
“And?””
“I saw Marcus’s SUV.””
She closed her eyes.
“I tried to call Daniel.””
“But?””
“He didn’t answer.””
The room became quiet.
“What happened next?””
Claire looked at me.
“I saw the crash.””
I froze.
“You saw him crash?””
“Yes.””
“Then why didn’t you help?””
Her face collapsed.
“I did.””
“Then why did he die?””
“Because I wasn’t the first one there.””
My phone rang.
Detective Harper.
I answered.
“Ethan, where are you?””
“Home.””
“You need to leave immediately.””
“Why?””
Her voice became serious.
“We found evidence someone tampered with the original accident report.””
I looked at Claire.
“What evidence?””
“Someone changed the emergency call time.””
My heart stopped.
“What?””
“The call for help was delayed by eighteen minutes.””
Eighteen minutes.
That was enough.
“Who delayed it?””
A pause.
Then:
“We traced the call.””
I waited.
“It came from a phone registered to Claire Hayes.””
The room went silent.
I slowly turned toward her.
Claire looked terrified.
“Ethan…”
I stepped back.
“No.””
“I can explain.””
“Your phone made the call.””
“I didn’t make that call.””
“Then whose phone was it?””
She had no answer.
And that scared me more.
Because for the first time…
May you like
I wondered if Claire had been protecting my father.
Or protecting herself.