CHAPTER 17 — The Aunt Who Had Watched From the Shadows
Laura Holloway was Sarah’s older sister.
My aunt.
According to Sarah, Laura had disappeared shortly after the crash.
“She blamed me for inheriting our father’s company,” Sarah said.
“Why did your father leave it to you?”
“Because Laura had been stealing from him.”
Daniel searched financial records.
Laura had not disappeared.
She had changed her name.
For nineteen years, she had lived as Laura Hayes.
She was the chief financial officer of Bennett Clinical Systems.
My father’s closest business partner.
I remembered her.
A sharp-faced woman who attended our Christmas dinners.
My parents called her Aunt Laura.
She had watched me open presents.
She had hugged me on birthdays.
She had known exactly who I was.
Police raided her home.
It was empty.
Inside a locked office, they found surveillance photographs of me dating back to childhood.
School entrances.
Birthday parties.
My first day of college.
Graduation rehearsals.
“She watched me my whole life.”
Sarah touched one photograph.
“She wanted to make sure you never learned the truth.”
A hidden ledger revealed the full conspiracy.
Laura had helped Richard gain access to the Holloway estate.
She forged Sarah’s death documents.
She transferred the company patents.
She also arranged the brake sabotage.
My father had stolen me for money.
Laura had tried to kill her own sister for revenge.
Daniel discovered recent airline reservations under false names.
Two tickets to a private island nation without an extradition agreement.
Departure time: six that evening.
Passengers: Richard Bennett and Laura Hayes.
Police rushed to the private airfield.
We arrived as a small jet began moving toward the runway.
Officers blocked the path.
The aircraft stopped.
The door opened.
Laura emerged alone.
She raised both hands.
“Richard isn’t here.”
Daniel searched the plane.
She was telling the truth.
Then Laura smiled at Sarah.
“He always said you were easy to fool.”
My phone rang.
My father’s voice came through.
May you like
“Come home, Emily.”
Behind him, I heard my mother screaming.
