Chapter 4 - Someone Had Been Watching Tess
Rebecca Sloan had been Miranda’s best friend for fourteen years.
She had stood beside Miranda at her wedding.
She had held newborn Tess in the hospital.
She had been one of the first people to arrive after Ethan died.
When Miranda could not sleep, Rebecca stayed overnight.
When Miranda forgot to eat, Rebecca stocked the refrigerator.
When Tess woke crying for her father, Rebecca sat beside her until sunrise.
Now Miranda was staring at a surveillance photograph showing Rebecca watching Tess outside school.
“There has to be another explanation.”
Detective Park did not respond.
Miranda pushed the photograph away.
“She could have been there to pick someone up.”
“She doesn't have children.”
“A friend’s child.”
“We checked.”
Miranda hated how calm Park sounded.
“Rebecca volunteers at fundraisers.”
“Not at Tess’s school.”
Miranda looked at Reyes.
“You're wrong.”
He gave her a sympathetic expression.
“I hope so.”
They contacted Rebecca.
She answered immediately.
“Miranda? Are you okay? I heard about Eleanor. Grant isn't answering me.”
Miranda looked at the detectives.
They wanted her to keep Rebecca talking.
“Can you come over?”
“Of course.”
“Mom’s house.”
“I’ll be there in twenty minutes.”
Exactly nineteen minutes later, Rebecca’s SUV pulled into the driveway.
Miranda watched from behind the curtain.
Rebecca stepped out wearing jeans, boots and a camel-colored coat.
She carried a tote bag.
Nothing about her looked threatening.
That was the problem.
Mrs. Dalton had not looked threatening either.
Rebecca entered and immediately hugged Miranda.
“Oh my God.”
Miranda remained stiff.
Rebecca pulled back.
“What happened to Tess?”
“She’s okay.”
“I heard Eleanor sprayed her with an extinguisher.”
“How did you hear that?”
Rebecca froze.
Only slightly.
“Grant mentioned something.”
Miranda stared at her.
“When?”
Rebecca’s eyes shifted.
“Yesterday.”
“Grant disappeared yesterday.”
“Yes.”
“What time?”
“I don't know. Late afternoon.”
Miranda felt Detective Reyes listening from the adjacent room.
“Rebecca, why were you outside Tess’s school?”
All warmth disappeared from Rebecca’s face.
“What?”
Miranda placed the photograph on the table.
Rebecca stared at it.
For several seconds she said nothing.
Then she sat down.
“Miranda.”
“Tell me.”
Rebecca rubbed her forehead.
“I was trying to protect you.”
Miranda almost laughed.
“That phrase is becoming very popular.”
Rebecca looked toward the hallway.
“Is Tess here?”
“Yes.”
“Can we speak somewhere private?”
“No.”
Rebecca stared at her.
“Please.”
“No more private conversations.”
Detectives entered.
Rebecca closed her eyes.
“I should have known.”
Reyes identified himself.
Rebecca asked for a lawyer.
That should have ended the conversation.
Instead she looked at Miranda and said, “Your brother is dangerous.”
Miranda’s pulse increased.
“Where is he?”
“I don't know.”
“Why were you watching Tess?”
“Because Grant had someone watching her first.”
“Victor Hale?”
Rebecca’s face changed.
She knew the name.
“You know him.”
Rebecca swallowed.
“Yes.”
“How?”
“He worked for Grant.”
“Doing what?”
Rebecca looked at the detectives.
Then back at Miranda.
“Things Grant didn't want his own employees doing.”
“What things?”
“Following people.”
“Threatening people?”
Rebecca said nothing.
“Did he threaten Ethan?”
Rebecca’s eyes filled.
“Yes.”
Miranda felt pain shoot through her chest.
“You knew?”
“Not until after.”
“After Ethan died?”
Rebecca nodded.
Miranda stepped backward as though physically struck.
“You let me bury him believing it was an accident.”
“I had no proof.”
“You had enough to watch my daughter.”
Rebecca stood.
“I was scared.”
“So was Ethan!”
“I know.”
“No, you don't.”
Miranda’s voice rose for the first time.
“You got to go home after his funeral. You got to continue your life. I had to explain to a five-year-old why her father wasn't coming back.”
Rebecca cried silently.
“I’m sorry.”
“I don't want sorry.”
Miranda leaned closer.
“I want the truth.”
And slowly, Rebecca began talking.
Grant had gambling debts far larger than anyone realized.
At one point he owed nearly two million dollars to private lenders.
He created DMC Holdings with Mrs. Dalton’s help to pull money from Harper Development.
Victor Hale acted as muscle and intermediary.
Rebecca discovered part of the scheme because Grant had borrowed money from her as well.
$150,000.
He never repaid it.
“When Ethan started asking questions,” Rebecca said, “Grant panicked.”
“Did he threaten him?”
“Yes.”
“How?”
“Hale followed Ethan home. Left photographs of Tess on his windshield.”
Miranda closed her eyes.
Her five-year-old daughter had been used as a threat.
“And Ethan still kept investigating?”
“Yes.”
Of course he had.
That was Ethan.
Stubborn.
Moral.
Protective.
“What happened the night he died?”
Rebecca looked at the floor.
“Grant asked Ethan to meet him at an old service station north of town.”
“How do you know?”
“Grant told me afterward.”
“Why would he tell you?”
“Because he needed help.”
Miranda’s blood went cold.
“What kind of help?”
Rebecca started crying harder.
“He showed up at my apartment after midnight.”
“After the crash?”
“Yes.”
“What did he say?”
“That something terrible had happened.”
Miranda stared.
“What?”
Rebecca struggled to breathe.
“He said he followed Ethan after the meeting. They were both angry. Ethan wouldn't give him the evidence.”
“Keep going.”
“Grant said he tried to make Ethan stop.”
“How?”
Rebecca shook her head.
“I don't know.”
“Rebecca.”
“He swore he never touched Ethan’s car.”
“What did he do?”
Rebecca whispered, “He drove behind him.”
Miranda waited.
“Close.”
“How close?”
“Too close.”
Miranda understood.
“He chased him.”
Rebecca nodded.
“In the rain?”
“Yes.”
“On that road?”
“Yes.”
Rebecca covered her face.
“He said Ethan accelerated. Grant stayed behind him. Then Ethan took the curve and—”
She stopped.
Miranda felt the room narrowing.
“And?”
“He went through the barrier.”
Silence.
Miranda could hear the clock ticking.
Grant had not sabotaged Ethan’s car.
Maybe he had never intended to kill him.
But he had chased him on a rain-soaked road at night.
And then he had lied.
“For three years,” Miranda whispered.
Rebecca cried.
“I told him to go to the police.”
“But he didn’t.”
“No.”
“And you didn’t either.”
“No.”
Miranda looked at her friend and felt something inside her break.
“Why?”
Rebecca’s answer came almost too quietly.
“Because I was in love with him.”
Miranda stared.
“With Grant?”
Rebecca nodded.
The betrayal rearranged years of memories.
Rebecca’s constant presence.
Her defense of Grant during family arguments.
The unexplained weekends away.
Miranda had never suspected.
“How long?”
“Seven years.”
“While Ethan was alive?”
“Yes.”
“Did Ethan know?”
“I don't think so.”
Reyes interrupted.
“Where might Grant go?”
Rebecca looked toward him.
“I don't know.”
“Think.”
She did.
Then her expression changed.
“There’s a cabin.”
Miranda turned.
“What cabin?”
“Grant bought it years ago through another company. West Virginia. Near the Monongahela forest.”
Reyes immediately contacted local authorities.
Within minutes teams were moving.
Miranda thought they were finally close.
Then Rebecca added something.
“There's another reason he might go there.”
“What?”
“He keeps records.”
“What records?”
“Insurance.”
Miranda frowned.
“Against who?”
“Everyone.”
Grant had secretly recorded conversations, copied signatures, stored bank records and collected material he could use against his accomplices.
Including Mrs. Dalton.
Including Rebecca.
Including Victor Hale.
“Why didn't Ethan know about the cabin?”
“Maybe he did.”
Rebecca looked at Miranda.
“Ethan once followed Grant there.”
Miranda froze.
“When?”
“Two weeks before he died.”
“What did he find?”
“I don't know.”
Detective Park asked for the exact location.
Rebecca provided what she remembered.
Then Miranda’s phone vibrated.
A text.
Unknown number.
She opened it.
A photograph filled the screen.
Tess.
Sleeping.
Not now.
Years ago.
She looked five.
Taken through a bedroom window.
Miranda nearly dropped the phone.
Beneath the photograph was a message.
YOU SHOULD HAVE LEFT THE SAFE CLOSED.
Reyes took the phone.
Another message arrived.
ASK REBECCA WHAT ETHAN FOUND AT THE CABIN.
Everyone turned toward Rebecca.
Her face went white.
Miranda whispered, “You said you didn't know.”
Rebecca shook her head quickly.
“I don’t.”
Another message.
SHE DOES.
Rebecca backed away.
“Miranda—”
“What did Ethan find?”
“Nothing.”
“Stop lying!”
Rebecca began shaking.
“It wasn't evidence about the money.”
“What was it?”
Rebecca stared at the detectives.
Then at Miranda.
“Grant had copies of your father’s estate documents.”
Miranda frowned.
“So?”
“He had changed them.”
“What do you mean?”
“Not legally. He created replacements.”
“For what?”
Rebecca swallowed.
“If your father died and the forged documents were accepted, Grant would control your shares.”
Miranda’s stomach tightened.
“My father is alive.”
“Yes.”
“Then why would Grant need them?”
Rebecca didn't answer.
Miranda suddenly understood why she looked terrified.
“Was my father in danger too?”
Rebecca whispered, “Ethan thought so.”
The room went silent.
Miranda’s father had suffered a severe stroke eighteen months after Ethan died.
Doctors called it unexpected.
He survived, but his speech had never fully recovered.
Miranda stared at Rebecca.
“No.”
Rebecca looked away.
“No.”
Miranda grabbed her arm.
“What happened to my father?”
“I don’t know.”
“Did Grant do something?”
“I don’t know!”
“Then why are you crying?”
Rebecca collapsed into the chair.
“Because Ethan found more than forged documents.”
Miranda waited.
Rebecca raised her tear-filled eyes.
“He found medication.”
“What medication?”
“I don't know the name.”
Miranda’s heartbeat pounded in her ears.
“But Ethan believed Grant had been putting it into your father’s drinks.”
Miranda could not move.
Her husband had died.
Her father had nearly died.
Her daughter had been watched.
And Mrs. Dalton had spent years inside her home.
This was no longer embezzlement.
This was a family being dismantled one person at a time.
Then Detective Reyes’ phone rang.
He answered.
His expression changed immediately.
“What?”
Everyone watched.
“Repeat that.”
A pause.
“When?”
Another pause.
Reyes slowly looked at Miranda.
“They found the cabin.”
Miranda stood.
“And Grant?”
“He’s gone.”
Her shoulders dropped.
But Reyes had not finished.
“They found a room underground.”
Rebecca covered her mouth.
Miranda stared.
“What was inside?”
Reyes lowered the phone.
“Photographs. Financial records. Personal files.”
He paused.
“And an entire wall devoted to you and Tess.”
Miranda’s skin went cold.
Then he added the detail that made every person in the room stop breathing.
“On the wall was a calendar.”
Miranda whispered, “What calendar?”
Reyes met her eyes.
“Tomorrow’s date is circled.”
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And beneath it, Grant wrote only two words: FINAL TRANSFER.
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