Chapter 8 - The Evidence Under the Limousine
Garrett slammed his palm against the limousine’s hood.
The driver hit the brakes.
The tires stopped inches from Mave’s phone.
Rainwater rushed around the device.
Garrett crouched, reached beneath the vehicle, and pulled it free.
The screen was cracked.
But a small recording light was still blinking.
Mave stared at it.
“It’s recording now.”
Coraline’s face drained of color.
Mave had accidentally activated the voice recorder when the phone hit the pavement.
Everything said during the confrontation had been captured.
Including Coraline denying she knew Posie.
Including Warren directing security toward Mave.
Including Evelyn reaching for the phone.
Warren stepped forward.
“That proves nothing.”
Judge Miriam Cole answered him.
“It establishes consciousness of guilt.”
“This is a private family matter.”
“You brought private security onto a public street and attempted to seize evidence after a suspicious collision involving an attorney.”
Warren’s jaw tightened.
Sirens sounded in the distance.
Coraline looked toward her father.
“You said they wouldn’t come.”
The entire street went silent again.
Warren turned on her.
“Be quiet.”
Garrett stared at them.
“Who wouldn’t come?”
Coraline shook her head.
“I didn’t mean—”
“You knew Daniel’s crash had been reported.”
“No.”
“You just said someone had arranged for the police not to come.”
Evelyn grabbed Garrett’s arm.
“Enough. Your father built this family’s reputation over forty years.”
“My father spent his final months investigating you.”
Evelyn released him.
For the first time, true fear appeared in her eyes.
Garrett had guessed.
Her reaction confirmed it.
Mave shifted Posie higher against her chest.
“There’s something else on the phone.”
She opened a hidden cloud folder.
Coraline lunged.
Garrett blocked her without touching her.
Mave entered a password.
A photograph appeared.
It showed Warren outside Posie’s preschool, handing a blue envelope to the school administrator.
Coraline whispered, “Dad…”
Warren’s face became stone.
Garrett enlarged the image.
The envelope carried the logo of an Ashford security subsidiary.
Then Posie spoke from Mave’s shoulder.
“The lady gave Mommy’s address.”
Mave looked at her daughter.
“What lady?”
Posie raised one trembling hand.
May you like
And pointed directly at Coraline.
👉 Posie had seen the bride before the wedding—and Coraline could no longer pretend she had never met her.
