The Family That Never Spoke Plainly
Chapter 05 - The Family That Never Spoke Plainly
Vivian admitted that Lauren had reported the missing badge.
She had not informed security.
She had not filed a police report.
She had simply replaced it.
“Why?” Ethan demanded.
“Because Lauren said she lost it at a hotel,” Vivian replied.
Lauren folded her arms.
“And Mother didn’t want another embarrassing Bennett story reaching the newspapers.”
Ethan looked between them.
“What hotel?”
Lauren’s confidence weakened for half a second.
“The Fairmont.”
“Which night?”
“I don’t remember.”
Marcus did not question her further. He only wrote something in his notebook.
Lauren entered Claire’s room after the officers searched her handbag. She placed the roses beside the window and leaned toward the bed.
“I’m so sorry this happened.”
Claire studied her sister-in-law’s face.
Lauren’s concern was convincing. That was what made it frightening.
“You told me to stop visiting the Jefferson building,” Claire said.
“I told you it was unsafe.”
“You also said some families should be grateful for whatever they receive.”
Lauren’s lips tightened.
“That isn’t what I meant.”
“It sounded clear to me.”
Ethan stood near the bed, looking more exhausted with every sentence.
Lauren turned toward him.
“She’s been under enormous stress. The doctor said medication can affect memory.”
“The doctor never told you that,” Claire said.
Lauren blinked.
She had spoken too quickly.
Ethan noticed.
“How did you know what medication she was given?”
“I called the hospital.”
“They aren’t allowed to release that information.”
Lauren looked toward Vivian.
“Mother sits on the hospital board.”
Vivian’s voice became cold.
“I did not give you access to Claire’s chart.”
For the first time, Lauren lost her polished expression.
Only briefly.
Then she began to cry.
“This family is unbelievable. Claire nearly dies, and suddenly I’m a criminal because I brought flowers.”
She left the room before anyone could stop her.
Ethan followed her into the hall, but Marcus remained beside Claire.
“She made a mistake,” Claire whispered.
“Yes.”
“She knew about the medication.”
“Yes.”
“Can you prove she accessed my records?”
“Possibly.”
Claire looked toward Vivian.
“Why are you protecting her?”
Vivian sat in the chair Ethan had abandoned.
“Because twenty years ago, I taught Lauren that the family name mattered more than the truth.”
She lowered her eyes.
“And she learned the lesson better than I did.”
Marcus’s phone vibrated.
He read the message, then turned the screen toward Claire.
May you like
Her stolen laptop had been found.
It was burning inside a trash container behind one of the Bennett Foundation’s apartment buildings.
