Chapter 3 - THE WOMAN THEY THOUGHT WAS DEAD
Brooke dropped the tote.
Diane stopped so suddenly Russell walked into her.
For one extraordinary second, the three of them stared at me as if I had climbed out of a grave.
Diane’s lips moved.
Nothing came out.
I stood.
“Good morning.”
Brooke backed against the wall.
“No.”
Her face drained.
“No, no, no.”
Diane finally found her voice.
“You’re alive.”
“Yes.”
“Then who—”
I held her gaze.
“Mason was driving my car.”
Russell’s cane slipped from his hand.
It struck the floor.
Diane stared at me.
“No.”
“He had Lauren Pike with him.”
Brooke whispered, “Lauren?”
“The woman carrying his child.”
Diane staggered.
For the first time that morning, genuine grief appeared on her face.
Not because someone had almost died.
Because the person had finally become someone she loved.
She grabbed my arm.
“Where is Mason?”
I removed her hand.
“The morgue.”
Diane screamed.
Every head in the corridor turned.
She lunged toward the nurses’ station.
“You save him! Do you hear me? You bring him back!”
A doctor approached.
“Ma’am—”
“My son needs surgery.”
The doctor’s face changed.
“You’re Mrs. Kincaid?”
“Yes!”
“I spoke with you earlier.”
Diane froze.
He clearly recognized her voice.
“We attempted every emergency intervention available. Mr. Kincaid’s injuries were not survivable.”
“But you said—”
“I said there had been an accident involving a vehicle registered to Audrey Whitmore. You assumed the patient was Audrey.”
Diane looked at me.
The realization arrived slowly.
Then brutally.
She remembered every word she had said.
Don’t save her.
Don’t waste money.
We’ll deal with everything tomorrow.
Diane began crying.
“You tricked me.”
I actually laughed.
It came out quiet and empty.
“I was asleep in my own bed when Mason stole my car.”
“You should have told me!”
“That your son was cheating on me?”
“You knew he was here!”
“Not until the hospital called.”
“You let me think—”
“You chose what to think.”
Brooke suddenly rushed toward me.
“You had money! You could have done something!”
Elliot stepped between us.
He had arrived without me noticing.
“Audrey didn’t make your brother crash,” he said.
Brooke glared at him.
“Who are you?”
“Her attorney.”
That silenced everyone.
Elliot turned to Diane.
“And before this conversation goes any further, you should know the hospital treated Mr. Kincaid under emergency medical protocols. Your statement on the telephone did not determine his treatment.”
Diane blinked.
“Then…”
“Your son died because his injuries were catastrophic.”
She looked almost relieved.
For two seconds.
Then Elliot continued.
“But the recorded call may become very relevant to several other matters.”
Diane’s face tightened.
“What matters?”
I removed my phone.
I played her text.
I hope they don’t revive her.
Diane went pale.
Then I played fifteen seconds from the living-room camera.
Her own voice filled the hallway.
“If she dies, Mason gets everything.”
Brooke covered her mouth.
Russell whispered, “Turn that off.”
I did.
“I also have video of Diane and Brooke entering my home this morning and removing my property.”
Brooke started crying.
“We put it back!”
“After police arrived.”
Diane’s grief transformed into rage.
“You have been spying on this family?”
“I installed a medical camera after Russell’s heart procedure because you asked me to help monitor him.”
Russell looked away.
He remembered.
I had sat beside him for two nights after that procedure.
I had paid part of the bill.
Now he could not meet my eyes.
Elliot touched my shoulder.
“We’re leaving.”
Diane moved toward us.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
“Home.”
“Mason is dead!”
“I’m aware.”
“You’re his wife!”
“I was.”
“You’re going to pay for the funeral.”
I stared at her.
Even with her son dead, her mind had already found the next invoice.
Elliot answered for me.
“Mr. Kincaid’s estate can address his funeral expenses.”
“His estate?” Diane repeated. “Everything is Audrey’s!”
“Exactly.”
That answer frightened her.
We walked toward the elevator.
Diane shouted after me.
“Mason was entitled to half!”
I turned.
“No, he wasn’t.”
She stared.
“Mason and I had a prenuptial agreement.”
Silence.
“A what?”
“He signed it four years ago.”
Diane looked at Russell.
Brooke looked at Diane.
Apparently Mason had never told them.
“My condo was mine before the marriage,” I said. “My investments remain separate. My publishing income remains separate. The Porsche was purchased from my separate account.”
Diane shook her head.
“You’re lying.”
“You’ll get a copy from my attorney.”
The elevator opened.
Then I remembered the recording.
I stepped back out.
“There’s something else you should know.”
Elliot gave me a warning look.
I ignored it.
“Mason’s Porsche recording survived the crash.”
Diane stopped breathing.
I watched her carefully.
“He spent the drive talking to Lauren.”
No reaction.
“He told her about my life insurance.”
Diane’s fingers curled.
“He told her an accident could solve his problems.”
Russell whispered, “Jesus.”
“And he said his mother knew I was worth more dead than divorced.”
Diane stared at me.
“I never agreed to kill you.”
Interesting.
I had not said she had.
Elliot noticed too.
His expression sharpened.
Diane realized her mistake.
“I mean—I don’t know what he told that woman.”
Brooke started backing away from her own mother.
I entered the elevator.
Before the doors closed, Diane called my name.
This time there was no anger.
Only fear.
“Audrey.”
I looked at her.
“What are you going to do?”
May you like
The doors began closing.
“Find out exactly how much you knew.”
