Chapter 6 - The Trap is Set
The revelation hung in the air like a suffocating fog. Liam sat paralyzed, the mug of tea growing cold in his hands.
"Gwen?" Liam whispered, his voice trembling. "Gwen was on the boat?"
"They were arguing," Marcus explained gently, his eyes filled with sympathy. "Leo had found out that Gwen’s business was involved in some highly illegal financial fraud. He threatened to go to the authorities. She followed him to the marina to stop him. They took the boat out to argue away from prying eyes. The footage clearly shows a struggle. She pushed him. He hit his head on the gunwale and fell into the freezing water. She didn't try to save him. She just drove the boat back to the dock, tied it up, and walked away."
Nora let out a sob, burying her face in her hands. Liam felt a cold, hard anger crystallize within him. His sister wasn't just a blackmailer; she was a murderer. She had extorted Nora not to protect Leo's memory, but to keep Nora from digging deeper and finding out the truth about Gwen's own guilt. Gwen had used the $8,000 to pay off the remaining debts from her fraudulent business before fleeing the country.
"We have to go to the police," Liam said, his voice dropping into a hard, resolute tone.
"We can't just go with the tape," Marcus warned. "Gwen has powerful connections in the local department—that's how she kept it buried the first time. If she gets wind that we have the tape, she'll disappear before they can issue a warrant. We need to catch her admitting to it."
Nora looked up, her eyes red but fierce. "She thinks she has won. She thinks I ran away out of shame and that Liam is on her side. If we use that against her, we can make her confess."
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Liam looked at his wife, admiration washing over his guilt. Despite everything he had put her through, she was ready to fight. He took her hand, kissing her knuckles. "Whatever you want to do, I am with you. Until the very end."
Together with Marcus, they formulated a plan. They would return to Grand Rapids. Liam would pretend to be completely broken, furious at Nora, and desperate for Gwen's comfort. They would lure Gwen into a trap where she would feel confident enough to boast about her victory—and her crimes.
