"You were."
"I assumed you saw money and opportunity."
"You did."
"I am sorry."
Chloe turned. "Do not ask me to make you feel better about admitting it."
"I will not." Then Henry looked back toward the mansion. "There is still something missing."
"What?"
"If protecting my mother was everything, Megan could have written that she never stole anything. Instead, she warned you to hear the whole story."
Chloe touched the pendant. He was right. The truth still had another locked door.
That night, Bethany sat alone in Evelyn's old office. She removed another oval pendant, its flower worn nearly smooth. She unlocked a drawer and took out a hidden letter.
Arthur entered without knocking. "What else are you hiding?"
"Nothing that can bring Megan back."
"This stopped being about bringing her back. It is about finding out how many people paid for our silence."
Bethany's fingers tightened. Arthur pointed to the letter.
"Read it."
She did. Evelyn had written the truth: Megan had asked for money to save Bethany's boyfriend because she knew about the pregnancy. Evelyn authorized it without Arthur's knowledge. When Arthur found the missing money, Bethany said she had seen Megan near his office. It was true, but she hid.
The worst part came next: Megan had returned secretly the night Arthur told her to leave; she planned to reveal the truth the following morning. Bethany had begged her not to. Then fear became cruelty.
"You threatened her," Arthur said.
"I was desperate."
"You told her that if she exposed the truth, you would accuse her publicly and involve the police."
"I never intended to do it."
"Megan could not know that."
Bethany wiped her eyes. "I was young."
"So was she."
Footsteps sounded outside. Henry entered with Chloe behind him. Arthur held up Evelyn's letter.
"We found the rest."
Chloe listened without interrupting. Bethany finally faced her.
"I asked Megan to leave for a few days. I thought everything would settle down."
"You did more than ask."
"I was pregnant. I was terrified."
"My mother was terrified, too. You think I do not know that?"