Chapter 9 - SAMANTHA’S VERSION OF THE NIGHT
Samantha agreed to a formal interview with her attorney present.
She wore no wedding ring.
She claimed Oliver had become paranoid during the final weeks of his life.
“He accused me of stealing from his company.”
“Were you?” the detective asked.
“No.”
“Northstar Distribution paid Dr. Kent.”
“I don’t manage every vendor payment.”
“You are the chief financial officer.”
“That does not mean I review everything.”
She said Oliver stopped taking prescribed medication.
He became angry.
He threatened divorce.
On the night he was declared dead, Samantha claimed he drank heavily and locked himself in the study.
At midnight, she heard something fall.
She found him unconscious beside the desk.
“Why did you call Dr. Kent instead of 911?”
“Oliver trusted him.”
“Why was your husband already wearing the shirt later found beneath his funeral suit?”
Samantha paused.
“He preferred sleeping in dress shirts.”
The detective did not react.
“What time did Dr. Kent leave?”
“Around three.”
“What did you do after that?”
“I sat with my husband.”
“Then you called a funeral home at 3:18 a.m.”
“I was in shock.”
“You also emailed the cremation authorization at 3:26.”
“My husband had clear wishes.”
“You contacted the funeral home before notifying his mother.”
“They were estranged.”
“You gave Joyce the wrong funeral date.”
“That was an administrative mistake.”
“You scheduled cremation less than twelve hours after the supposed death.”
“He wanted no delay.”
“Where did he write that?”
Samantha pointed toward the forged medical document.
The detective placed another paper on the table.
It was the unsigned power of attorney Oliver had refused.
The cremation paragraph was identical.
Even the unusual spacing matched.
Someone had copied language from the rejected document and created a new form.
Samantha stopped answering questions.
Her attorney ended the interview.
Outside, Elena spoke to reporters.
“This was not a tragic misunderstanding. A living man was placed inside a coffin, and someone attempted to destroy the evidence before his family could see him.”
Samantha watched from the police-station window.
Then she called a number saved under no name.
A federal investigator was already monitoring the line.
A man answered.
Samantha said only six words.
“They found him before the fire.”
The man replied, “Then you have a bigger problem.”
Police traced the number.
It belonged to Northstar’s registered agent.
Lucas Vale.
May you like
Samantha’s older brother.
👉 The false death was not only protecting Samantha—it was protecting the family member who helped her move millions through Oliver’s company.
