Lawrence wiped sweat from his forehead, flashing a nervous, practiced smile that failed to reach his panicked eyes. “Mrs. Vance, please let’s not make a scene here in public, as there are many legal complications to consider,” he stammered, eyeing the smartphones pointed at them by curious onlookers. “We can sort this out privately back at the corporate office with an experienced attorney for injury claim procedures or corporate liabilities.”
Clara ignored the corporate executive completely, keeping her sharp eyes fixed on the trembling Verónica. She remembered how Leonard used to call her every single week just to ask simple cooking questions, proving how tightly bonded they had always been despite Verónica’s manipulative efforts. There was no natural reason for Leonard to vanish without a trace unless something devastatingly criminal had occurred at his construction site….
The phone continued to chime relentlessly against the damp grass, its light reflecting off the polished black shoes of the funeral director. With a swift movement, Clara bent down and snatched the device before Verónica could lunge for it. The caller ID still flashed the words Leonard’s Office, pulsing with an urgency that demanded an immediate answer.
