Chapter 11: The Man Who Started the Fire
The ballroom was nearly empty when Gideon received the second envelope.
Preston had been escorted into a private conference room by investigators. Cassidy was sitting alone near the stage, crying into a napkin.
I stood beside Gideon, staring at the photograph.
"Who started the fire?""
Gideon examined the back again.
"We need to identify the person who had access to the electrical system.""
I looked at the photograph.
The control panel had a maintenance label.
*NORTHSTAR ELECTRICAL SERVICES.*
I recognized the name.
"That was the company that inspected the house.""
Gideon nodded.
"Our investigators have already identified the contractor. The company closed shortly after the accident.""
"Who owned it?""
He turned his laptop toward me.
A man named Robert Keller.
I didn't recognize the name.
But Gideon did.
His expression darkened.
"That's interesting.""
"What?""
"Robert Keller was a former facilities manager at Ashford Global. He resigned six months before the fire.""
"Why?""
"An internal investigation involving missing equipment.""
I looked at him.
"Do you think he worked with Preston?""
"Possibly.""
Gideon called his head of security.
"Find Robert Keller. I want his current address, employment records, and every known connection to Preston Whitmore.""
He ended the call.
Then he looked at me.
"Vivian, you should go somewhere secure tonight.""
"I want to know what happened.""
"I understand.""
"No, Gideon. I don't think you do.""
My voice shook.
"Five years ago, I woke up in a hospital with thirteen grafts across my back. I spent years believing I was lucky to be alive. Meanwhile, the people responsible were having champagne parties and buying houses with my compensation.""
Gideon said nothing.
"I'm not leaving until I know who did this.""
He nodded.
"Then we'll find out.""
At midnight, our security team located Robert Keller.
He was living in a small house in New Jersey.
We arrived with two investigators and Gideon's attorney.
A porch light flickered as we approached.
Gideon knocked.
A man in his late fifties opened the door.
He looked at Gideon.
Then at me.
His face changed.
"You're Vivian Whitmore.""
I stepped forward.
"Do you remember the fire?""
He looked down.
"Yes.""
"Did you tamper with the electrical system?""
He opened his mouth, then closed it.
Gideon held up the photograph.
"We have the maintenance request, payment records, and a witness statement from Samuel Price.""
Robert backed away.
"I didn't start the fire.""
"Then who did?"" I asked.
He looked toward the dark hallway.
"I was paid to disable the safety alarm. That's all.""
"By Preston?""
He nodded.
"He said the property would be empty.""
My chest tightened.
"But I was there.""
"I know that now.""
"Did you know I was upstairs?""
He rubbed his face.
"No. Preston told me you were going to stay with your mother.""
I stared at him.
"My mother?""
"He said she had arranged for you to spend the weekend away.""
Gideon stepped forward.
"Who instructed you to disable the alarm?""
Robert hesitated.
Then he whispered:
"Martin Hales.""
I felt sick.
"The surgeon?""
Robert nodded.
"He called me using a private number. He said Preston had arranged everything and that the work needed to be completed before Friday.""
I gripped the doorframe.
"Why would a surgeon care about an electrical alarm?""
Robert looked at me.
"Because Dr. Hales was the one who told Preston that the insurance policy would pay more if you suffered permanent injuries.""
The hallway seemed to disappear.
"What?""
Robert continued.
"He said the medical compensation would be substantial. Preston told me he wanted you out of the house for a few days. But when I discovered you were still inside, it was too late.""
Gideon stepped between us.
"Did you report this?""
Robert shook his head.
"Preston paid me $75,000. He said if I talked, he'd make sure I went to prison for the entire thing.""
I felt tears burning behind my eyes.
"Did you see him after the fire?""
Robert nodded.
"Yes. At the hospital.""
My breath caught.
"What was he doing there?""
"He came with Dr. Hales. They were discussing the insurance claim.""
"Did they know I was conscious?""
Robert looked away.
"They knew you were recovering.""
I swallowed.
"Did Preston ever say anything about me?""
Robert hesitated.
Then he spoke.
"He said the plan had gone wrong because you survived.""
The investigators took Robert's formal statement.
Before we left, he gave them an old storage key.
He said it belonged to a rented unit where he'd kept the original electrical components removed from the property.
The investigators immediately arranged a search.
Gideon and I returned to Manhattan.
I sat silently in the back of the car.
After a while, he spoke.
"You did something important tonight.""
I looked at him.
"What?""
"You gave people the courage to stop protecting Preston.""
I stared out the window.
"I wish someone had done that five years ago.""
Gideon didn't offer an empty promise.
He simply said, "I'm sorry.""
At 2:17 a.m., I received a call from an unknown number.
I answered.
"Hello?""
A man's voice spoke.
"Vivian, my name is Daniel Vaughn.""
I sat upright.
"The father of Lily?""
"Yes.""
"How did you get my number?""
"Rebecca gave it to me. She said you might know something about the payments Preston made.""
I glanced toward Gideon.
"What's happening?""
Daniel lowered his voice.
"I've been investigating Preston for six years. I discovered that he and Cassidy weren't just involved in financial fraud.""
"What do you mean?""
"They were trying to conceal the identity of someone who helped arrange the insurance scheme.""
"Who?""
Daniel took a breath.
"Your father.""
I froze.
"My father died when I was twelve.""
"I know what your family believes. But I found records showing that he was alive after the date of his supposed death.""
I couldn't speak.
Daniel continued.
"Preston has been paying someone to maintain that lie. And the person receiving those payments is your mother.""
I gripped the phone.
"Are you saying my father is alive?""
Daniel's voice dropped.
"I'm saying I found a photograph of him taken three months ago.""
My heart hammered.
"Where?""
"At a private rehabilitation facility in Pennsylvania.""
I looked at Gideon.
He had heard enough to understand.
"Daniel," I whispered, "why would my father be there?""
There was a pause.
Then he answered.
"Because he was the original owner of the property where the fire happened.""
And suddenly, I understood why Preston had been so desperate to keep the past buried.
May you like
The fire hadn't just been about money.
It had been about something my father had known.
