Chapter 4 - The Bait
The funeral was held on a rainy Thursday. I wore my only black suit, standing by the graveside as the small white casket was lowered into the earth.
Sarah stood right next to me, weeping loudly into a lace handkerchief. Richard stood behind her, his hand placed comfortingly on her shoulder, looking like the picture of dignified grief. To anyone else, they were my rock. To me, they were vultures waiting for the carcass to cool.
"You're doing so well, Artie," Sarah whispered as the crowd began to disperse. "Chloe would be so proud of how strong her daddy is."
I looked at her, forcing my face into an expression of hollow, broken defeat. "I don't know what to do, Sarah. The house feels so empty. Every time I close my eyes, I just hear her voice."
Richard stepped forward, his tone smooth and professional. "Arthur, listen to me. You need time to heal. Don't worry about the financial details or the hospital bills. Sarah and I will handle the closure of the foundation and the insurance payout. We just need you to sign the standard executor release forms tomorrow."
"Release forms?" I asked, looking confused and weary.
"Just formalities," Richard said quickly, offering a reassuring smile. "It gives us the legal authority to clear the outstanding balances so the collectors don't come after your house. Let's meet at my office tomorrow morning at ten."
"Okay," I muttered, looking down at the mud. "Whatever you think is best. I just... I found some of Chloe's things last night. I found some old papers she was hiding in her room. I don't know what they are. They look like financial statements from your foundation."
I saw the briefest flash of panic cross Richard’s eyes before he masked it with a polite frown. "Papers? What kind of papers, Arthur?"
"I don't know. They have your name on them, and some bank stamps from overseas. Chloe must have taken them out of your briefcase when you were visiting her at the house last month. She loved playing with 'grown-up papers.' I left them on my kitchen counter. I'll bring them tomorrow."
Sarah’s face went completely pale. "Oh... oh, yes. She was a little rascal, wasn't she? Don't worry about bringing them, Artie. We'll pick you up tomorrow morning and we can look at them together at your place first."
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"Thanks," I said, turning away so they wouldn't see the dark smile forming on my face. "I'll see you at ten."
The trap was set. They couldn't risk me bringing those papers to a public office or showing them to anyone else. They were going to come to my house to destroy the evidence themselves.
