Chapter 5 - THE TRUTH ABOUT CLAIRE
Claire slowly placed the pistol on the floor.
"I'm not here to hurt you."
Evelyn stepped backward.
"You lied to me for years."
"Yes."
"You slept with my husband."
Claire closed her eyes.
"Yes."
"Then why should I believe anything?"
Claire removed a small silver necklace.
Inside was an old photograph.
Two little girls.
One was Evelyn.
The other...
Claire.
"We met when we were four."
Evelyn stared.
"I don't remember."
"They made sure you wouldn't."
Thomas explained.
Years earlier both girls had been taken briefly during a land dispute involving their families.
Claire's parents were murdered.
She survived under witness protection.
Her identity was erased.
Government agents created the name Claire Bennett.
Years later Damon found her.
He threatened to expose everyone who had protected her unless she infiltrated Evelyn's life.
Claire obeyed.
At first.
But she secretly recorded every conversation.
Every confession.
Every financial transfer.
The affair?
Real.
But staged to convince Damon she remained loyal until enough evidence had been collected.
Claire handed Evelyn a final flash drive.
"I hated myself every day."
"I only stayed long enough to destroy him."
Before dawn federal agents surrounded Black Ridge.
Damon attempted to escape by helicopter.
May you like
It never left the ground.
He was arrested together with judges, bankers, corporate executives, and cartel intermediaries connected to nearly three decades of fraud.
