Chapter 14: The Woman Who Killed My Father
By dawn, the photograph had been enlarged, authenticated, and sent to the investigative team.
Victoria Hale had spent eleven years managing my family's finances. She had also helped organize my father's funeral, comforted me when I lost my mother, and sat beside Catherine during the first weeks of Lily's life.
Now I had evidence placing her beside my father on the day he died.
I stood in the police interview room while Lieutenant Harris reviewed the photograph.
“It's circumstantial,” he said.
“We need more than a picture to establish that Victoria was involved in his death.””
“Then get her to talk.””
“We're trying. She's requested legal counsel.””
“Tell her I want to speak with her.””
Harris shook his head.
“Not without her lawyer present.””
“Fine. Bring the lawyer.””
Two hours later, Victoria entered the interview room wearing a gray suit and an expression of practiced indignation.
She sat opposite me and folded her hands on the table.
“Richard, I don't know what you've been told, but I had nothing to do with your father's death.””
I placed the photograph between us.
She looked at it.
For the first time since I had known her, she didn't immediately have an answer.
“Where did you get that?”” she asked.
“Does it matter?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
She glanced toward her lawyer.
“I was at your father's house that day. He asked me to review some financial records.””
“Was Martin there?””
Victoria remained silent.
“Was Daniel there?””
Her lawyer interrupted.
“My client will answer questions only if they relate directly to the allegations under investigation.””
I leaned forward.
“Did you witness my father's murder?””
Victoria's eyes snapped toward mine.
“No.””
“Then why are you afraid of this photograph?””
“I'm not afraid.””
“Your hands are shaking.””
She looked down and clasped them together.
For several seconds, the only sound was the ticking clock on the wall.
Then Victoria said, “Your father was already dead when I arrived.””
I felt my stomach tighten.
“Who killed him?””
“I don't know.””
“Martin?””
She closed her eyes.
“I told you, I don't know.””
I pushed the photograph closer.
“Victoria, I trusted you. My wife trusted you. You helped raise my children. You stood beside me while I searched for Catherine and Lily, knowing that the entire time you were helping the people who took them.””
Her face twisted.
“You think I wanted any of this?””
“You had choices.””
“You have no idea what your father was capable of!””
“Then tell me.””
Victoria looked at her lawyer.
He nodded once.
She took a long breath.
“Your father discovered that Martin was using the network to arrange disappearances. He planned to testify and give the authorities the original records.””
“Why didn't he?””
“Because Martin threatened his family.””
I felt a cold weight settle in my chest.
“Us?””
“Yes.””
Victoria rubbed her forehead.
“Your father believed he could negotiate with Martin. He thought he could hand over enough information to keep the family safe while protecting the company.””
“And you helped him?””
“I tried.””
“By helping Martin?””
Her eyes filled with tears.
“Your father asked me to protect the financial records. He said that if anything happened to him, I should get the documents to you.””
“Instead, you buried them.””
“I was afraid.””
“You used my money to fund a criminal operation.””
“I didn't start it!””
“But you kept it alive.””
Victoria lowered her head.
For the first time, she looked old.
“I know.””
I waited.
Finally, she continued.
“On the day your father died, Martin came to the house. They argued in the study. I heard your father say that he had already sent copies of the records to someone outside the network.””
“Who?””
“I never found out.””
“What happened next?””
“Martin came out alone. He told me your father had suffered a heart attack. He said that if I questioned him, I would be responsible for what happened to you.””
I stared at her.
“You believed him?””
“I was twenty-nine, Richard. I was frightened, and I believed he had people everywhere.””
“So you helped cover up a murder.””
Victoria began crying.
“Yes.””
The admission hung in the air.
“Did you order Catherine's disappearance?”” I asked.
“No. Martin did.””
“But you helped him.””
She nodded.
“Daniel carried out the first transfer. I handled the accounts and arranged for the police investigation to go nowhere. I told myself that if I kept Martin satisfied, he'd eventually let Catherine and Lily return.””
“You watched me search for them for three years.””
“I know.””
“You watched my son cry himself to sleep because he thought his mother was dead.””
“I know!””
Her sudden shout echoed through the room.
Then she covered her face.
“I know what I did. I know what I became.””
I stood up.
“Where is Martin now?””
Victoria looked at me through her fingers.
“I don't know.””
“Where would he go?””
“The old Whitmore estate.””
My heart stopped.
“My mother is there.””
Victoria shot to her feet.
“Then you have to get her out!””
Lieutenant Harris immediately signaled the officers outside.
“Why?”” I demanded.
Victoria's voice broke.
“Because Martin found out that Eleanor survived. He has been searching for her for years. He believes she has the original recording of your father's murder.””
I grabbed the table.
“You told him where she was?””
“No! I swear I didn't.””
“Then how does he know?””
Victoria looked toward the door.
“Because Daniel was working for him long before he ever met Catherine. Martin planted him in your company to keep track of everyone who knew about the network.””
The pieces fell into place.
Daniel hadn't stumbled into the operation. He had been part of it from the beginning.
But something had changed along the way.
“Why did Daniel help Catherine escape?””
Victoria swallowed.
“Because Martin took Daniel's family. He threatened to kill his wife and son unless Daniel obeyed. But Daniel fell in love with Catherine's determination to expose him. He began helping her secretly.””
“Then why did he keep Lily away from me?””
“Because Martin convinced him that you were involved. Daniel thought he was protecting Lily from her own father.””
I turned toward Harris.
“Get a team to the estate. Now.””
He was already speaking into his radio.
My phone vibrated.
A message from an unknown number.
*Your mother is waiting. Come to the estate before sunrise. Alone.*
A second message followed.
It contained a photograph of Eleanor sitting in a chair inside the old house.
She was alive.
But a man stood behind her with one hand resting on her shoulder.
Martin Caldwell.
Beneath the picture were six words.
*Bring Catherine, or your mother dies.*
I showed the screen to Harris.
He immediately called for tactical support.
But Catherine had already seen the photograph.
“Richard,” she whispered, “we have to go.””
“No. That's exactly what Martin wants.””
“Eleanor saved Lily's life. I won't let her die because of me.””
I took Catherine's hand.
“We're going to save her. But we're not walking into his trap without a plan.””
She nodded.
Then she looked at Victoria through the glass.
“Ask her about the second recording.””
I turned.
“What second recording?””
Catherine's face had gone pale.
“The one Victoria took from your father's study. The recording that proves who fired the gun.””
I looked through the glass at Victoria.
She had heard every word.
And for the first time, she began screaming.
“Don't let Martin play it! You don't understand what it will do!””
Lieutenant Harris opened the interview room door.
“What recording, Ms. Hale?””
Victoria looked at me, tears streaming down her face.
“Your father wasn't the only person who was supposed to die that night.””
May you like
She pointed toward Catherine.
“Ask your wife why Martin spared her.””
