Chapter 6 - The Woman Who Was Supposed to Be Dead
Dominic broke the lock.
The hallway was empty.
Security footage showed nobody approaching.
Someone had looped the cameras.
Arthur immediately called building security.
Beatrice looked at the photograph again.
The angle bothered her.
It had not been taken from the hallway.
It had been taken inside the office.
She looked upward.
Smoke detector.
“Dominic.”
He followed her gaze.
Marco removed the detector.
A tiny camera was hidden inside.
Chloe backed away.
“They've been watching Dad.”
“No,” Beatrice said.
“They've been watching all of us.”
Arthur's phone rang.
Private number.
He answered.
A woman's voice said, “Come home.”
Victoria.
Arthur nearly dropped the phone.
“Where are you?”
“Home.”
“You're dead.”
“So was Evelyn.”
The call ended.
They drove to the Davenport townhouse.
Evelyn was already there.
She had received the same message.
Nobody liked that.
Dominic entered first.
Then Marco.
Then Beatrice.
The foyer lights were on.
A woman sat in the drawing room.
Chloe stopped breathing.
“Mom.”
Victoria Davenport rose.
She was older.
Thinner.
But alive.
Chloe ran toward her.
Victoria embraced her.
Arthur did not move.
“You let me bury you.”
Victoria smiled faintly.
“You let Beatrice bury Evelyn.”
The cruelty of it made Beatrice flinch.
Arthur's voice hardened.
“Why are you here?”
“For her.”
Victoria looked at Beatrice.
Dominic shifted closer.
Victoria noticed.
“So that part happened faster than expected.”
“What part?” Beatrice asked.
“Dominic choosing you.”
Beatrice frowned.
“He didn't choose me.”
Victoria smiled.
“Didn't he?”
Dominic said, “Stop playing games.”
“Your father said the same thing.”
“You knew him?”
“I knew everyone.”
Victoria walked toward a cabinet and poured herself water.
“I spent twenty-nine years working for the network.”
Chloe stared.
“You told me Dad was the corrupt one.”
“Your father was weak. Not corrupt.”
Arthur absorbed the insult without reaction.
Victoria continued.
“Daniel Hayes wanted to expose everything. Dominic’s father wanted to turn the Russo organization legitimate. Gabriel wanted to disappear with Evelyn.”
“And you?” Beatrice asked.
“I wanted control.”
There it was.
No apology.
No excuse.
Victoria had been the Custodian.
Arthur whispered, “You.”
“Once.”
“Who now?”
Victoria looked toward Chloe.
“Liam believes he is next.”
Dominic asked, “Is he?”
“No.”
“Then who?”
Victoria looked at Beatrice.
“The network’s charter requires the Custodian to hold controlling authority over the central holding company.”
Beatrice understood.
“Me.”
“Yes.”
“I don't want it.”
“That has never mattered.”
“It matters to me.”
Victoria smiled.
“That is precisely why Daniel gave it to you.”
Beatrice touched the old key in her pocket.
“What does this open?”
Victoria's expression changed.
“Where did you get that?”
“My mother.”
Evelyn stepped forward.
“Daniel left it.”
For the first time, Victoria looked afraid.
“Destroy it.”
“No,” Beatrice said.
“Beatrice, you don't understand.”
“Then explain.”
“That key opens Daniel’s failsafe.”
“What failsafe?”
“A deposit vault containing every original record. Names. Accounts. Judges. Executives. Contractors. Politicians. Criminal organizations.”
Arthur stared.
“Enough to expose everyone.”
“Enough to collapse everything.”
Dominic said, “Good.”
Victoria laughed.
“You think only criminals use those accounts? Pension funds. Charities. Hospitals. Construction projects. Destroy the network overnight and innocent people lose everything.”
Beatrice looked at Dominic.
That changed things.
Daniel had created a weapon.
But using it carelessly could hurt people who had never known the truth.
“What would my father have done?”
Victoria's expression hardened.
“He intended to separate legitimate assets from criminal ones before releasing the records.”
“Can that still be done?”
“Yes.”
“How?”
“The Black Ledger.”
The stolen ledger.
It contained the map.
Without it, Beatrice could expose everyone but could not distinguish innocent assets from dirty ones.
Dominic understood.
“We need Liam alive.”
Victoria nodded.
“And cooperative.”
Chloe wiped her tears.
“I can get him.”
“No,” Arthur said immediately.
“He trusts me.”
“He used you.”
“I used him too.”
“Chloe—”
“For once, let me fix something.”
Beatrice looked at her sister.
“Why should we trust you?”
Chloe's eyes filled.
“You shouldn't.”
The answer surprised everyone.
“But I know where Liam goes when he's scared.”
Dominic frowned.
“Where?”
“A private apartment in Brooklyn.”
Marco began organizing a team.
Victoria suddenly caught Beatrice’s arm.
“Don't go.”
Beatrice pulled free.
“Why?”
“Because Liam isn't the person you should fear.”
“Who is?”
Victoria looked at Dominic.
“His father never told him how Daniel really died.”
Dominic became still.
“My father?”
Victoria shook her head.
“Not your father.”
“Then who?”
“Gabriel.”
Evelyn went pale.
“Victoria, don't.”
Beatrice looked between them.
“What did Gabriel do?”
Nobody answered.
“What did he do?”
Evelyn whispered, “He was there the night your father died.”
Beatrice's stomach twisted.
“Did he kill him?”
“No.”
“Then what?”
“He saved the man who did.”
Dominic asked, “Who?”
Before Evelyn could answer, the front windows exploded inward.
Dominic pulled Beatrice down.
Marco shouted.
The lights went out.
Gunfire struck the walls.
Then silence.
Emergency lights flickered on.
Victoria was gone.
The front door stood open.
And on the floor where she had been standing lay the Black Ledger.
Beatrice picked it up.
A fresh message had been written across the first page.
DON'T TRUST EVELYN.
She looked up.
Her mother was staring at the handwriting.
May you like
Then Evelyn whispered:
“I know who wrote that.”
