Chapter 13: The Chairman's Confession
I read the sentence again.
If Alistair Voss tells you he tried to save Elaine, he is lying.
For most of my life, Alistair had been Uncle Alistair.
Birthday cards.
Graduation flowers.
A quiet hand on my shoulder at my father's funeral.
The man who had stood onstage and announced my ownership of Corvina.
Now my dead father was warning me about him.
"When did you read this?"" I asked Desmond.
"Six months ago.""
"And you still let me trust Voss?""
"I didn't know whether Arthur was telling the truth.""
"So you investigated me instead.""
His silence answered.
Martin stood.
"Wren, we need to leave.""
"No.""
"If Voss knows you have that letter—"
The club door opened.
Alistair Voss walked in.
Gideon stood behind him.
Nathaniel immediately moved toward me.
Voss stopped.
"I suppose we're past pretending.""
I held up my father's letter.
"Did you order the sabotage?""
Desmond stepped between us.
Voss looked at him almost sadly.
"Move.""
Desmond didn't.
"Answer her.""
For the first time in our marriage, my husband was standing between me and danger rather than pushing me toward it.
It didn't erase anything.
But I noticed.
Voss removed his coat.
"I didn't order Elaine's death.""
"That's not what I asked.""
His jaw tightened.
"Did you order someone to sabotage my father's car?""
Silence.
Gideon whispered, "Alistair.""
Voss closed his eyes.
"Yes.""
The word landed softly.
I expected rage.
Instead, I felt empty.
"Why?""
"Because Arthur was going to destroy Corvina.""
"My father was ending your illegal operation.""
"He was going to expose everything.""
"Good.""
"You don't understand what that meant.""
"Then explain it.""
Voss looked around the room.
"Corvina was weeks from collapse. The covert licensing agreements kept hundreds of people employed.""
"You sabotaged a car to save jobs?""
"No.""
His voice cracked.
"To save the company.""
I stared at him.
"That's supposed to sound better?""
"It wasn't supposed to kill him.""
Martin laughed bitterly.
"You cut a brake line.""
"I ordered the vehicle disabled.""
"By destroying its brakes?""
"I told the contractor to make sure Arthur couldn't reach the board meeting.""
My stomach turned.
"And you trusted him to decide how?""
Voss said nothing.
"My mother took the car.""
His face broke.
"I didn't know.""
"But afterward you knew.""
"Yes.""
"And you helped my father hide it.""
"He came to me after the crash.""
"Why?""
"He knew immediately what had happened.""
I could see it.
My father standing beside twisted metal.
Understanding that the trap had been intended for him.
Understanding his wife had died in his place.
"What did you tell him?""
"That if he exposed me, everything would come out. The hidden licensing. The vendors.
Martin. Gideon.""
"So he protected you.""
"No.""
Voss shook his head.
"He protected you.""
My voice hardened.
"Don't use me.""
"Arthur believed Corvina would collapse under investigations and lawsuits. Your family assets were tied to it. He thought you would lose everything.""
"I would have preferred losing money.""
"I know that now.""
"You knew it then.""
He couldn't answer.
Gideon stepped closer.
"You spent thirty-two years calling cowardice protection.""
Voss turned.
"And you disappeared.""
"Because someone had to preserve the evidence.""
"You preserved yourself.""
"Enough.""
My voice stopped them.
I looked at Voss.
"Who photographed me sleeping?""
"Not me.""
"Did you know Martin installed the camera?""
"No.""
Martin spoke.
"I did that.""
Desmond moved toward him.
"You sick—"
"Stop.""
I faced Martin.
"Why?""
"Because I knew Voss was watching the investigation.""
Voss stared at him.
Martin continued.
"I needed to know whether Wren found Arthur's letter.""
"You violated my home.""
"Yes.""
No excuses.
Somehow that made him more frightening.
Nathaniel's phone buzzed.
He checked it.
Then looked at me.
"Police are outside.""
Voss smiled sadly.
"You called them.""
"I did.""
His eyes returned to mine.
"Then there's one thing you should know before I leave.""
"What?""
"The money Desmond transferred.""
My attention sharpened.
"The $3.8 million.""
"Yes.""
"What about it?""
"It wasn't stolen from Corvina.""
Nathaniel frowned.
"Records show—"
"The records were designed to show that.""
I looked at Desmond.
He seemed as confused as I was.
Voss continued.
"The money belonged to Elaine.""
My heart stumbled.
"That's impossible.""
"Your mother's dormant trust contained an asset nobody knew how to access.""
"What asset?""
"Royalties.""
Gideon's expression changed.
Voss looked at me.
"Thirty-two years of royalties from the technology Elaine created.""
I stared at him.
"How much?""
"Not $3.8 million.""
A pause.
"Closer to eighty-six million.""
The room went silent.
"Where is it?""
Voss looked toward the brass key.
"That's what the final compartment contains.""
Then police entered.
As they approached him, Voss gave me one final look.
"Your mother didn't leave you revenge, Wren.""
"What did she leave me?""
May you like
He smiled sadly.
"A choice.""
