The Woman Diane Never Mentioned
Chapter 03 - The Woman Diane Never Mentioned
Diane arrived at the motel at six in the morning wearing sunglasses and a raincoat over the same cream dress.
She looked seventy instead of fifty-eight.
I opened the door but did not invite her in.
"Who?" I asked.
She understood immediately.
"My daughter."
I stared at her.
Grant had told me he was an only child.
Diane sat on the edge of the motel bed and folded her hands.
"Her name is Caroline."
"Grant has a sister?"
"Had. Has. I don't know what word to use anymore."
Caroline Holloway was six years older than Grant.
At twenty-four, she worked for the family company and began questioning a series of property transfers approved by Walter.
According to Diane, Caroline became increasingly angry.
Or that was the story Walter told.
"He said she was unstable," Diane whispered. "He said she was drinking. He said she needed time away from the family."
My skin went cold.
"Where did she go?"
"Chicago, I think. Then Seattle. She stopped answering me."
"You let your daughter disappear?"
Diane flinched.
The question was cruel.
It was also true.
"I believed my husband."
I looked at the woman sitting in front of me.
"Just like Grant believed him instead of me."
She nodded.
That honesty hurt more than an excuse would have.
Diane reached into her handbag and removed a folded receipt.
A private car service.
Holloway House to Hawthorne Lake.
The night before.
Walter's name was listed as the passenger who arranged the trip.
"I found it in his jacket."
I almost laughed from exhaustion.
"So now you believe me?"
Diane began crying.
"No. I believed you when you walked through the door."
I looked away.
She deserved no comfort from me.
Not yet.
"What did Grant say?"
"He confronted Walter."
"And?"
Diane wiped her face.
"Walter told him you went to Hawthorne voluntarily because you were planning to blackmail the family."
I closed my eyes.
Of course he did.
"And Grant?"
"He didn't answer."
That was worse than I wanted it to be.
Diane stood.
"Lena, there's something else."
I waited.
"Your father did work on a Holloway project."
I felt the room tilt.
"What project?"
She swallowed.
"Rivergate Towers."
I knew the name.
Everyone in our city did.
Twenty-three years earlier, part of Rivergate's parking structure collapsed during construction.
No one died, but five workers were injured.
The scandal nearly destroyed Holloway Development.
The official report blamed a subcontractor.
May you like
Diane's voice dropped.
"Your father was the man they blamed."
