Released at 24, She Went Back to Her Father’s Old Body Shop — Under the Lift Sat a Welded Trunk
Chapter 3
Claire didn’t move.
“What is it?”
Ethan closed the door behind him.
“Where did you find that?”
“Under the lift.”
He looked toward the trunk.
For several seconds, he said nothing.
Then he whispered:
“Your father told me never to touch it.”
Claire’s heart sank.
“You knew about it?”
“I knew something was there.”
“What was inside?”
“I don’t know.”
Claire held up the notebook.
“You knew my father was investigating something.”
Ethan looked away.
“He asked me questions.”
“What kind?”
“About cars coming here after midnight.”
Claire showed him the photograph.
Ethan immediately recognized the SUV.
“That car belonged to Daniel.”
Claire stared at him.
“My brother?”
Ethan nodded.
“He drove one exactly like it.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because your father told me not to.”
Claire laughed bitterly.
“Everyone knew something except me.”
Ethan stepped closer.
“Claire, I believed you.”
She looked at him.
“Six years ago?”
“Yes.”
“You testified for the prosecution.”
Ethan’s face fell.
“I was twenty-three.”
“You told them you saw me arguing with my father.”
“I saw you arguing with him.”
“About what?”
“You wanted money.”
Claire’s eyes hardened.
“That wasn’t what we were arguing about.”
“I know that now.”
“Then why did you say it?”
Ethan looked down.
“Because Sheriff Reed told me your father had already identified you as the person responsible.”
Claire froze.
“My father identified me?”
“That was what they told me.”
“My father never said that.”
“I know.”
Ethan took a breath.
“Because I found something after your trial.”
“What?”
“A repair invoice.”
Claire frowned.
“What does that prove?”
“The black SUV came into the shop that night.”
“Daniel’s?”
“Yes.”
“Who was driving it?”
“I don’t know.”
Claire looked at the notebook.
“Where’s the invoice?”
Ethan reached into his jacket.
He handed her a folded paper.
The date matched the night Claire was arrested.
The customer name had been scratched out.
But the vehicle identification number remained.
Claire entered it into her phone.
The result appeared.
Her face went pale.
The vehicle was registered to Daniel Morgan.
She looked at Ethan.
“My brother was there.”
Ethan nodded.
“And someone lied about it.”
Claire stared at the open trunk.
Suddenly, the past didn’t feel like the past anymore.
It felt like someone had been waiting six years for her to come home.
Then headlights appeared outside.
A black SUV stopped in front of the shop.
Claire looked at Ethan.
He whispered:
“That’s Daniel.”
