“What was Clara like when she was, what, eighteen, nineteen?”
“We were both nineteen. She was gorgeous. Adventurous. We had fun.”
“Why’d you break up?”
“We were nineteen and she started getting serious and I was like, no, I’m going to a four-year college. I was just saving money going to community college for two years. She didn’t like that. She didn’t like when I said I had to study. I’m pretty smart, but I was taking all the hefty math and science classes so I could get into a good college. So we split up. Like I said, we really weren’t that serious and I didn’t want to be, but I liked hanging with her.”
“How did you end up reconnecting in Orange County?”
“Oh. Well, I went to college in Arizona, took a job there, didn’t really like it, and we were Facebook friends. She mentioned there was an IT position with her company—she worked for a hotel resort—I applied, and got it.”
“Did she try and rekindle your relationship?”
“Maybe? I don’t know, really. I was just glad to be back in California, and living in OC. I met Emily a year later and knew she was the one.”
Catherine had to think like Clara... Did Clara believe Emily had stolen Charlie from her? Did Clara think Charlie owed her something for helping him get the job? There had to be more to it... and Catherine suspected it had to do with Emily’s educational background.
“When did Emily start law school?”
“She was in law school when I met her. She was going at night while she was working.”
“How did Emily know Clara?”
“Why all these questions about Clara?”
“Again, I’m just trying to put together a comprehensive background.”
“No, this is different,” he said.
What did Catherine say to that? “Clara’s name has come up in the course of our investigation into Emily’s murder.”
“Oh. Wow.”
“How did Emily know Clara?” she repeated.
“Clara worked at the hotel. She didn’t need to work—she had come into a lot of money when she got her trust fund, which was after we had split. But she liked being around people, and she was good at her job.”
“Which was?”
“Personal trainer. She pretty much made her own hours. Emily worked in Marketing. They didn’t really work together, butI thought they were friends. At least friendly, you know. Until Clara applied for a different position. She’d been at the hotel for like two years maybe? And said she wanted something new. She had a marketing idea and wanted to work in the marketing department. Well... Emily didn’t think her idea was any good, and she didn’t hire Clara into the open position. Clara told me Emily got promoted over her, but I think that was kind of a stretch. Emily did get a promotion, but Clara had no chance at it. Then Clara accused Emily of stealing her idea and quit. She was mad, I get it, but Clara wasn’t the sharpest tack. She wasn’t dumb,” he said quickly. “She was great with people, but when it came to details or math or budgets? She couldn’t be bothered.”
“Thank you, that helps.”
“You don’t think Clara... I mean, she wouldn’thurtanyone.”
“I don’t think anything yet,” Catherine said, “but I appreciate your time.”
She ended the call. She did think something, but nothing she wanted to share with Charlie Rowe.
Clara lived in her own world. She saw slights where there were no slights. Emily didn’t steal her boyfriend—Clara and Charlie had split long before Emily came along. Emily didn’t steal her job, but Clara would have considered it a slight that Emily may have prevented her from getting a position that she wanted. Especially if they were friendly. The accusation that Emily stole her idea was likely built on a slim premise or stray comment.
Catherine looked again at the timeline. Clara had quit her job at the hotel two months before the wedding. And that’s probably when she seduced Emily’s father for the sole purpose of exposing the affair and putting a damper on the festivities. She did it to be mean, but Catherine suspected she got satisfaction out of emotionally destroying a family.
Destroying the Masters family was Clara’s way of destroying her own, though she would never admit it... and she probably wouldn’t even recognize it if Catherine laid out the breadcrumbs.
Why was Clara, who had a ten-million-dollar trust fund, working as a personal trainer? Was she bored? Wanted to meet people? Maybe to seduce or scam them? Did she find joy in tricking people? Did the murders evolve because she became bored with seduction? Or because she and Garrett had married and she didn’t want to sleep with other men?
How did she meet Garrett Reid?
