Chapter 4: The Woman Who Watched
Renata spoke carefully, like someone who had rehearsed what she was going to say and was now deciding, sentence by sentence, how much of it to actually use.
"I've been Derek's office manager for four years," she said.
"I process his client files.
I handle his commission reports."
"Okay."
"Six months ago, I noticed something in his records.
A client account — a woman named Patricia Holt."
My stomach dropped.
"That's his mother."
"I know," Renata said.
"That's why I noticed it.
He listed her as a new client.
Opened a whole life policy in her name.
Beneficiary listed as Suzanne."
I didn't say anything.
"Skylar, the premiums on that policy are being paid from a joint account.
I looked it up.
The account was opened eight months ago.
The address on file is your apartment."
"I never opened a joint account with him," I said.
"Not eight months ago.
We had one from when we first married, but I closed my access to it two years ago after he—" I stopped.
"After I noticed money moving."
"He reopened it," Renata said quietly.
"Or he opened a new one using your information.
I don't know which.
But your name is on it."
I pressed my hand flat against the steering wheel.
"Why are you telling me this now?"
Another pause.
Longer this time.
"Because this morning, Derek came in and asked me to backdate three documents.
He said it was a clerical correction.
I've done small things for him before — I'm not proud of it.
But backdating felt different.
I told him I needed to think about it." She exhaled.
"An hour later, I heard he'd left early.
And then I saw the news alert about a domestic incident at your address."
"You saw that?"
"It was on the local feed.
They don't name people, but I knew the building." A beat.
"I've seen the burn marks on his coffee mug before, Skylar.
The one he keeps at his desk.
He filled it from the break room kettle every morning.
I always thought he just liked it very hot."
The parking lot felt very quiet.
"Will you put what you know in writing?" I asked.
"I already have," Renata said.
"I made copies of everything before I left the office today.
The policy documents.
The account records.
The email where he asked me to backdate the files.
I have it all on a drive."
"My attorney's name is Diane Marsh.
Can I give her your number?"
"Yes." Then: "Skylar, there's one more thing."
"Tell me."
"The policy on Patricia.
The death benefit." Renata's voice dropped slightly.
"It's for eight hundred thousand dollars.
And it was activated three weeks ago."
I looked up at the dark window on the third floor.
"Activated how?"
"He submitted a health declaration for her.
Signed by a doctor.
But the doctor's license number on the form — I looked it up.
It was suspended two years ago."
The officers were still by their cruiser.
Officer Reyes was writing something in her notepad.
May you like
"Don't go anywhere tonight," I told Renata.
"I'm going to call Diane right now."
