Chapter 9 - The Truth in the Recording
Victor searched the building.
Nobody was there.
But Evelyn refused to leave.
She sat beside the old desk.
“I was there the night your father died.”
Victor stared at her.
“You worked for him?”
“Yes.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because I was afraid.”
“Of Clara?”
Evelyn shook her head.
“Of the person behind her.”
Victor became still.
“Who?”
Evelyn looked at me.
“Your father discovered a hidden account.”
“Whose?”
“Not Clara's.”
Victor's eyes narrowed.
“Then whose?”
Evelyn reached into her coat.
She removed a small memory device.
“This was copied from your father's original records.”
Victor took it.
Dmitri connected it to the computer.
A list appeared.
Payments.
Transfers.
Names.
Dates.
Then one name appeared repeatedly.
Marcus Hale.
Victor stared.
“Who is that?”
Evelyn answered.
“Your father's attorney.”
Victor leaned back.
“My father trusted him.”
“He trusted him completely.”
I remembered Marcus from the hotel.
The server.
My stomach turned.
“Wait.”
Victor looked at me.
“Marcus?”
“The server who helped me.”
Dmitri's expression changed.
They searched the security system.
Marcus had disappeared.
Victor immediately understood.
“He planted the second glass.”
Dmitri nodded.
“And the fingerprints.”
I felt sick.
“Then he was there the entire time.”
Victor grabbed his phone.
“Find him.”
A message arrived.
Unknown number.
Come to the ballroom.
Alone.
Victor looked at me.
“No.”
I shook my head.
“They have the locket.”
Victor said nothing.
I continued.
“My father's proof is inside it.”
“We'll get it another way.”
“But if they destroy it—”
“We'll still have the records.”
I looked at him.
“And what about Clara?”
Victor's jaw tightened.
“We find her.”
We returned to the ballroom.
It was empty.
The chandeliers were still on.
The broken glass had been cleaned.
The tables were perfectly arranged.
As if nothing had happened.
Then Clara walked onto the stage.
She held my locket.
Victor stopped.
“Clara.”
She smiled.
“Victor.”
“Give it to me.”
“No.”
“Then this ends badly for you.”
She laughed softly.
“You still don't understand.”
She opened the locket.
Inside was a tiny folded strip of paper.
She held it up.
“This is why your father died.”
Victor's face changed.
“What does it say?”
Clara looked at me.
“It says your father never trusted you.”
“That isn't true.”
Clara smiled.
“He wrote one final message.”
She unfolded the paper.
Then read:
“Protect Lena from Victor.”
I froze.
Victor stared at me.
Clara continued.
“Your father believed you would eventually become like the people who destroyed him.”
Victor's face hardened.
“You're lying.”
Clara laughed.
“Am I?”
Then the ballroom doors opened.
Marcus walked in.
He held the missing recording device.
Victor turned.
Marcus smiled.
“You finally found the truth.”
May you like
He looked directly at me.
“And now Lena gets to hear what her father really said.”
