And one locked case.
Claire’s voice trembled.
“I saw the passports.”
Derek stared at me.
“Passports?”
“Old government travel documents.”
“There were four names.”
“Aliases.”
“And cash.”
“Emergency foreign currency.”
“And the gun.”
“Legal.”
“You had an escape kit!”
“No.”
That was what she had believed.
I finally understood.
After my military career, I had kept a sealed deployment bag because I couldn’t throw it away.
Claire had interpreted it as preparation to disappear.
“So you decided to steal from me before I
could leave?”
“I decided I needed protection.”
“Then where was the money going?”
Claire’s lips trembled.
“To Melissa.”
“Why?”
“Because I wanted a life you couldn’t control.”
Derek laughed bitterly.
“You told me we were opening a second gym.”
