James read the marriage record three times. Natalie Price and Victor Hale had married in Nevada nine years earlier. Investigators found no divorce decree in the jurisdictions they had checked, although further verification was necessary before determining whether the marriage remained legally valid. The document nevertheless raised a serious question about Vanessa's intention to marry James.
She hadn't mentioned any previous marriage.
When James asked about former relationships, she always claimed she'd been single for years.
Rebecca instructed him not to contact either Vanessa or Victor. The financial investigation was expanding, and she feared direct confrontation could interfere with evidence preservation or expose James to additional manipulation.
But remaining silent felt unbearable.
That evening, James stood in the kitchen making grilled cheese sandwiches while Lily sat at the table completing homework. She seemed calmer than she had immediately after the wedding, but occasionally looked toward the front door as though expecting Vanessa to appear.
"Daddy?"
"Yes, sweetheart?"
"Can someone have two husbands?"
James nearly dropped the spatula.
"Why are you asking?"
Lily shrugged.
"Vanessa told me grown-ups have different kinds of families."
James placed the sandwiches on plates and sat beside her.
"Families can look different, honey. But people should be truthful about their relationships."
Lily considered that.
"Was she truthful with you?"
James looked into his daughter's eyes.
"No."
She nodded as though the answer confirmed something she'd suspected for months.
After dinner, James received a call from Sarah.
Investigators had obtained records suggesting Victor's consulting firm received substantial payments connected to proposed transactions involving Carter Construction. The payments themselves required careful examination, but the link supported further investigation into whether multiple people coordinated the attempted asset transfers.
Sarah also explained that the marriage record could affect any future matrimonial claims, though the legal implications depended on additional facts.
James thanked her and ended the call.
Then Rebecca arrived with news about the missing jewelry.
A dealer in Philadelphia had reported receiving inquiries about several items matching descriptions James provided. The dealer had not completed a purchase and agreed to cooperate with investigators.
The items were associated with someone using Caroline Whitmore's name.
James stared at his sister.
"Vanessa's mother?"
Rebecca nodded.
"Possibly. We need confirmation."
James remembered Caroline's elegant appearance at family dinners, the way she praised Claire's jewelry, and the casual questions she asked about insurance valuations.
He felt sick.
"Was anybody in that family who they claimed to be?"
Rebecca looked toward Lily's bedroom.
"Right now, the important thing is that you're protecting your daughter."
Then her phone rang.
She listened carefully before covering the receiver.
"James, it's Sarah."
"What happened?"
Rebecca's expression changed.
"They found Claire's letters."
James stood.
"Where?"
Rebecca swallowed.
"In a storage unit rented by Victor Hale."