CHAPTER 11: Red Dress, Blue Lights, Black Folder

Vivian recovered the way practiced liars often do.
She did not deny everything. She selected one corner of the truth and made herself comfortable there.
'Aaron was sick,' she said. 'He was paranoid near the end. Maya encouraged it because she wanted control.'
Maya turned toward her slowly.
The rain had flattened her hair against her temples. Her jacket clung to her shoulders. She looked nothing like the polished daughter-in-law Vivian had once demanded for Christmas cards.
That was why her quiet carried farther than shouting.
'Aaron was tired because he was saving your company from the damage Lucas caused.'
Lucas flinched.
Vivian's red dress looked almost violent beneath the porch light.
Reyes returned to the folder and found the next page. It was a letter from Aaron's cardiologist confirming that Aaron had been medically cleared to travel two days before he died. No proof of foul play, no accusation, only one more piece of a timeline Vivian had tried to hurry past.
'I am requesting a detective,' Reyes said into his radio.
Vivian's hands closed into fists.
The blue lights kept moving over her as if the night were refusing to let her stand still.