CHAPTER 10 - MY MOTHER’S LAST WARNING
CHAPTER 10 - MY MOTHER’S LAST WARNING
The bank’s security footage revealed two things.
Camille had entered using credentials issued to Daniel Cross.
She had left carrying a leather case and wearing a motorcycle helmet.
The second discovery was worse.
A Hartwell company car had waited outside.
The driver was Marcus Vane, Meridian’s chief financial officer.
Marcus had worked beside Victor for four years.
He had been escorted from the building the morning after I called my father.
Victor claimed Marcus knew nothing about the Calder meetings.
Victor had lied again.
The police searched Marcus’s apartment.
It was empty.
His accounts had been drained three days earlier.
A flight reservation in his name led nowhere.
Like Camille, he had prepared to disappear.
While Russell coordinated with investigators, I sat at my mother’s desk in the undamaged east wing.
The empty envelope rested before me.
My father stood in the doorway.
“She wrote your name the week before she died.”
“What did the letter say?”
“I told you I never opened it.”
“You knew the trust might exist.”
“Yes.”
“You knew Daniel had reason to destroy it.”
“Yes.”
“You still kept everything from me.”
“I wanted you safe.”
“That excuse is becoming convenient.”
He entered the room.
“Your mother believed power could protect people.”
“She was wrong.”
“No.”
I looked at the bruise fading on my cheek.
“Power protected Victor from consequences for years.”
“Your power did.”
His words struck harder than I expected.
I stood.
“What does that mean?”
“You asked me to watch without interfering.”
“I asked you not to reveal my identity.”
“You also asked me to let your marriage succeed or fail on its own.”
“I never asked you to promote Victor.”
“No.”
Arthur’s voice became heavy.
“That was my mistake.”
He sat across from me.
“Every time Victor failed, I thought removing the obstacle would protect you from disappointment.”
“Every time he complained, I approved something.”
“Every time he wanted more, I gave the company another reason to reward him.”
“You trained him to believe consequences were for other people.”
I had blamed Victor for mistaking protection for talent.
Now I understood who had built the illusion.
“You helped create the man who hit me.”
My father closed his eyes.
“Yes.”
The admission stripped the anger from me.
In its place came grief.
Arthur Hartwell could purchase buildings, influence markets, and frighten politicians.
He could not buy his daughter a safe marriage.
Still, he had tried.
And in trying, he had made it more dangerous.
My phone rang.
The call came from the county jail.
Victor wanted to speak with me.
He had been charged with assaulting Camille and obstructing an investigation.
His attorney said he possessed information about Marcus.
I accepted the call.
Victor’s voice sounded distant.
“Marcus kept copies of everything.”
“Where?”
“He had a storage unit near the freight yards.”
“Why didn’t you tell investigators?”
“Because I need something first.”
I almost ended the call.
“What?”
“Protection from Daniel.”
“He is in federal custody.”
Victor laughed quietly.
“No, Olivia.”
“I saw Daniel transferred last night.”
“He was never booked.”
My grip tightened around the phone.
“What are you saying?”
“Someone intercepted the transport.”
“How do you know?”
“Marcus sent me a message.”
Victor paused.
“He said Daniel is free.”
The lights in my mother’s office went out.
Across the house, glass shattered.
May you like
Russell shouted from the hallway.
I dropped behind the desk as a bullet tore through the window above me.
