Chapter 6 - After You’re Gone
Natalie stared at the envelope as if it had teeth.
“I found it in my crew bag this morning.”
“You didn’t open it?”
“I thought it was some kind of grief letter.”
Ethan tore the seal.
Inside were three documents.
The first was a resignation confirmation from the airline.
The second was a draft change to Natalie’s will.
The third was a letter to Ethan.
He read it aloud.
“Ethan, by the time you read this, Natalie will have chosen to spend her remaining time with family. Respect her decision and do not interfere with medical arrangements.”
Natalie’s mouth fell open.
“I never wrote that.”
“I know.”
At the bottom was a typed signature line for Natalie.
Unsigned.
Ethan turned to the draft will.
Allison was listed as executor.
Half of Natalie’s insurance proceeds were designated for a “family care trust.”
Trustee: Allison Grant.
Natalie whispered, “She was planning my death.”
Ethan said nothing.
It sounded melodramatic.
But the paper in his hand made the sentence hard to dismiss.
A knock came at the door.
Captain Mercer stepped inside with Rebecca.
Daniel removed his hat.
“We wanted to see how you were doing.”
Natalie forced a smile.
“I’ve had better anniversaries.”
Rebecca hugged her.
Daniel looked at Ethan.
“I’m sorry about the announcement. Natalie asked me not to tell anyone outside the crew. I thought you knew.”
Ethan’s jaw tightened.
“I didn’t.”
Daniel looked genuinely sick.
“I would never have done that if I’d known.”
Natalie said, “It’s not your fault.”
Ethan almost laughed at the irony.
Everybody had been protecting everybody with incomplete information.
Rebecca placed a small card on the table.
“The crew took a collection.”
Natalie shook her head.
“No.”
“It’s not charity. It’s hotel points, meal cards, rides, things people had.”
Natalie started crying.
Rebecca sat beside her.
Ethan watched them.
These people had known.
But unlike Allison, they had not used the secret.
They had carried it because Natalie asked them to.
That distinction mattered.
Daniel glanced toward the documents on the bed.
“What happened?”
Ethan explained only the essentials.
Daniel listened.
Then his expression changed.
“AG Consulting?”
Ethan looked at him.
“You know it?”
“I’ve seen that name.”
“Where?”
Daniel thought.
“Crew hardship fund.”
Natalie sat up.
“What?”
“Our union has a voluntary emergency fund. A consulting company handled some disbursement paperwork last year.”
“AG Consulting?”
“I think so.”
Rebecca suddenly went still.
“There were complaints.”
“What complaints?” Ethan asked.
“Money missing. Small amounts. Nobody could prove anything.”
Natalie looked at Ethan.
Allison had worked as a freelance bookkeeper for years.
Daniel pulled out his phone.
“I can call our union rep.”
Before he could dial, Ethan’s phone rang.
Unknown number.
He answered.
“Allison?”
A man’s voice said, “Mr. Cole?”
“Yes.”
“This is Sergeant Moreno with Boston Police.”
Ethan’s pulse jumped.
“We found your sister-in-law’s car.”
“Where?”
“In the short-term garage at Logan.”
“Is she there?”
“No.”
“Then where is she?”
A pause.
“We don’t know. But there’s blood on the driver’s seat.”
— — —
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