Chapter 14 - A Funeral Full of Liars
More than eight hundred people came to Mother's funeral.
She would have hated that.
"Too many flowers," Clara whispered.
"She would've sent half back."
"She would've asked if the florist had a refund policy."
I almost smiled.
We stood beside the church doors.
Clara wore black.
No maid uniform.
No apron.
Just my sister.
The press gathered outside the gates.
Executives.
Politicians.
Old family associates.
Some genuinely loved Mother.
Others attended because powerful funerals were business meetings with coffins.
Mother would've known the difference.
Victor arrived in federal custody.
That caused a scene.
Cameras flashed.
Whispers spread.
He had been given permission to attend under supervision.
Clara stiffened.
"You okay?"
"No."
"You don't have to speak to him."
"I know."
Victor stopped near us.
He looked at Clara first.
Then me.
"I'm sorry."
I stared.
"For which thing?"
"Pick one."
Mother would've laughed.
I didn't.
"Sit down, Victor."
He nodded.
Inside, the priest spoke about Eleanor's generosity.
Her humor.
Her strength.
He did not mention that she could destroy a man's confidence with one raised eyebrow.
Missed opportunity.
Then Clara walked to the podium.
I had not known she planned to speak.
She unfolded paper.
Then folded it again.
"I wrote something."
She looked at the page.
"But Mrs. Hale hated rehearsed speeches."
Soft laughter.
"So I'm not going to read it."
She looked toward Mother's coffin.
"When I came to this house, I thought Eleanor Hale was a woman I owed something."
My throat tightened.
"She had protected my mother in ways I didn't understand yet."
Clara paused.
"But six months later, I understood I didn't stay because I owed her."
She looked at me.
"I stayed because I loved her."
Silence.
"She was scared."
Clara smiled through tears.
"Not of dying exactly. She was scared of leaving people unfinished."
Several people laughed softly.
"She worried Bennett would spend the rest of his life pretending feelings were scheduling conflicts."
More laughter.
I stared at her.
She smiled.
"She worried I'd run away whenever I thought I didn't belong."
Her voice broke.
"So if there is one thing I can do for her now, it's prove she didn't leave us unfinished."
Clara looked at Mother.
"We're going to be okay."
I stopped breathing.
"We won't be the same."
She shook her head.
"But maybe that's the point."
When she returned, I hugged her.
In public.
People noticed.
Let them.
After the service, Samuel's lawyer approached.
Daniel intercepted him.
"Message for Mr. Hale."
I opened it.
Samuel wanted a deal.
He had information capable of implicating dozens of officials.
He wanted me to support reduced sentencing.
I tore the message in half.
"No."
The attorney blinked.
"You don't want to hear what he has?"
"Investigators can."
"He says some evidence concerns you."
"Then they can have that too."
The man stared at me.
He had expected negotiation.
Old Bennett would've negotiated.
Mother had inconvenient timing.
At the cemetery, rain began.
Of course.
Clara stood beside me.
We watched Mother's coffin lowered.
No umbrellas.
She would've complained.
Victor remained several yards away.
When everyone began leaving, he approached.
"Your father was right."
I looked at him.
"About what?"
"We ruined everything we touched because none of us knew when to stop."
"You planning to become philosophical in prison?"
"Maybe I'll finally have time."
Clara looked at him.
"Did you ever visit my mother?"
Victor nodded.
"Twice after you were born."
"Did she forgive you?"
"No."
"Good."
Victor almost smiled.
"She shouldn't have."
Clara continued.
"But she kept the house."
"Yes."
"Why?"
"I asked her to."
"Why?"
He stared at the grave.
"Because it was the only place I remembered being happy before I started choosing power over people."
Clara was quiet.
Then she said, "I don't forgive you."
Victor nodded.
"I know."
"But I don't want to hate you forever."
That destroyed him more effectively than any punishment.
Victor looked away.
His eyes filled.
"Your mother would've been proud."
Clara replied:
"My mother or Eleanor?"
Victor swallowed.
"Both."
Agents led him away.
Daniel came beside me.
"Meeting tomorrow."
"Federal?"
"Yes."
"They want cooperation?"
"Full."
I looked at Mother's grave.
"What happens if I give them everything?"
"Hale organization as we know it ends."
"Legal businesses?"
"Could survive."
"Employees?"
"Most legitimate divisions keep operating."
"And me?"
Daniel hesitated.
"Depends what you've done."
I appreciated the honesty.
There were things I had done.
Nothing I was proud of.
Some illegal.
Some worse morally than legally.
I could hire lawyers.
Fight.
Delay.
Protect the Hale name.
Father had.
Until he tried to change.
Mother had hidden secrets because she was afraid.
Until she changed.
Victor had destroyed lives for power.
Until he changed.
Maybe I wasn't too late.
Clara touched my arm.
"You're doing the face again."
"What face?"
"Punching architecture."
I laughed.
At Mother's grave.
It felt wrong.
Then somehow right.
"What do you think I should do?"
Clara looked at the headstone.
"Would you be asking if you didn't already know?"
I hated that answer.
Because it was Mother's answer.
On the drive home, Daniel received a call.
His expression tightened.
"What?"
"Someone broke into Briar Street."
"Letters?"
"Gone."
My heart dropped.
"All?"
"Looks like it."
"Who?"
"Security footage caught one person."
"Samuel's people?"
Daniel turned the screen toward me.
No.
The person entering Lillian's old house was Clara.
Timestamp:
Two hours before Mother's funeral.
I looked at the seat beside me.
Empty.
Clara had taken her own car to the cemetery.
I called.
No answer.
Again.
Nothing.
Daniel said, "Bennett."
I stared at the footage.
My sister had removed Father's letters before I could turn evidence over to federal investigators.
Why?
Then a message appeared on my phone.
From Clara.
I'm sorry.
I need to finish something Mom started.
Don't follow me.
I was already telling Daniel to turn the car around.
May you like
Because after promising Mother she wouldn't run away, Clara had disappeared with the one set of letters Samuel Price had spent decades trying to find.
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