Chapter 8
Rose Price came forward before police found her.
She walked into the station with an attorney and a box of documents.
I met her behind glass the next day.
Not as family.
As witness.
She looked about thirty-eight.
Dark hair.
Evelyn’s eyes.
Victor’s mouth.
“My father is Leonard Price,” she said. “But Arthur Crawford paid for my school, my medical care, everything.”
“Did you know why?”
“Not until last year.”
Claire sat beside me in a wheelchair.
Rose looked at her.
“I am sorry.”
Claire said nothing.
Rose continued.
“My father told me Evelyn was my biological mother. He said she wanted to meet me if I helped with one medical favor.”
My stomach turned.
“The sedative.”
Rose nodded, crying.
“I refused. My father did it anyway.”
“Where is he?”
“I don’t know. But I know where he keeps records.”
Her box contained copies.
Prescriptions.
Payments.
Messages from Evelyn.
One message read:
Claire found Arthur’s letter. If Daniel arrives before this is done, everything ends.
Everything.
The company.
The money.
The murders.
The hidden child.
The false family.
Rose gave police her father’s cabin address.
Leonard Price was found there that night.
He had cash, passports, and a vial matching the drug in Claire’s blood.
He tried to claim Evelyn forced him.
Detective Holt replied, “Into packing cash?”
I would have smiled if I had not been so tired.
Rose asked to see Evelyn.
I asked why.
She said, “Because I want to know if she gave me away to protect me or to protect herself.”
May you like
I already knew.
But she deserved to hear it from the source.
