Their family had a system.
Diane caused the damage.
Paul created the excuses.
And everyone else was expected to protect the family name.
Margaret had secretly recorded several conversations after realizing that Paul was becoming just like his mother.
One recording was from the evening of my attack.
I stopped breathing when Rachel played it.
Diane’s voice came through the speaker.
“She needs to learn that this is my house.”
Then Paul’s voice.
“Don’t worry. I’ll tell the police she slipped. Nobody is going to believe her over us.”
There was a pause.
Then Diane laughed.
“Good. And make sure she doesn’t start telling people about the money.”
Rachel stopped the recording.
I stared at her.
“What money?”
Margaret looked devastated.
“Clara, your husband has been using your financial information without your permission.”
My stomach tightened.
Rachel opened another document.
It was a financial report investigators had obtained through the appropriate legal process.
