the crash?”
“No. Michael drove away angry, but the crash was an accident.”
“And Daniel let everyone believe he was a thief after he died.”
“Yes.”
I looked at the transfers.
Eighteen years of payments suddenly meant something different.
“The money was guilt.”
“Partly.”
NEXT PAGE
I looked up.
One word.
Another door opening.
“Partly?”
Rebecca’s face tightened.
“What else were you being paid for?”
“I wasn’t being paid.”
“Then what do you call eighteen years of money from the man who destroyed your husband?”
She became completely still.
My husband.
The words finally connected.
Rebecca H.
Michael H.
I stared at her.
“So that’s what you were to Michael.”
“Yes.”
“And Daniel started sending you money after he died.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Rebecca drew a breath.
“Because Michael left something behind, Daniel could never give back.”
“What?”
Before she answered, someone spoke behind me.
“Mom?”
Rebecca went pale.
I turned.
