You could have warned Catherine.
You could have told the protective detail.” She wiped her face.
“Instead you flew to Switzerland and told a man where to find his wife and newborn child.”
Evelyn opened her mouth.
“Did he know about the bruise?” Claire asked.
The room went still again.
“Did Victor know you were going to find me eventually?
Is that why you brought Daniel into this?
You arranged for your son to marry the daughter of the woman you helped silence—”
“I didn’t kjll anyone.”
“You might as well have.” Claire’s voice broke.
“And then you let your son put his hands on me.”
Daniel’s head snapped up.
“What?”
Claire touched her cheek.
“Three nights ago.
In your apartment.
You asked me about my parents.
About my childhood.
I couldn’t answer the way you wanted.
And you—”
“I didn’t mean to—”
“You grabbed my arm.
You shoved me into the wall.
When I tried to leave, you—” She stopped.
Her hand went to her cheek.
Daniel’s face went gray.
“Claire, I was angry.
I thought you were hiding something.
I thought you were—”
“She was hiding something,” Richard said.
“She was hiding from the people who murdered her mother.
One of those people is standing next to you right now.”
Daniel looked at Evelyn.
Then at Claire.
Then at the floor.
“I didn’t know,” he said.
“I swear I didn’t know.”
“You knew enough to ask questions she couldn’t answer,” Richard said.
“You knew enough to get angry when she wouldn’t talk.
And when she couldn’t explain where she came from, you put your hands on her.”
Daniel said nothing.
Morrow stepped forward.
“Mrs.
Prescott, I need you to come with us.”
Evelyn backed up.
“I’m not going anywhere.”
“You’re being detained on federal charges related to aiding and abetting in the attempted murd3r of a protected witness, conspiracy to obstruct justice, and ongoing financial crimes connected to the Ashland estate.”
