Chapter 9 - THE BLOOD IN THE CAR
The blood wasn’t Vanessa’s.
That made everything worse.
Police identified it three hours later.
Robert Fields.
Damian’s estate accountant.
Robert had disappeared that afternoon.
His phone was off.
His apartment was empty.
His wife was terrified.
Damian paced his office.
“Why Robert?”
Martin, the CFO, answered through video call.
“He approved household reimbursements.”
“So?”
“He might have noticed irregularities.”
Elena sat near the window with Mia asleep against her chest.
“Or he helped her.”
Everyone looked at Elena.
She swallowed.
“I’m sorry. But the ledger had employee names.”
Damian nodded.
“She’s right.”
Harris entered.
“We searched Robert’s work computer.”
“And?”
“He downloaded company transfer records six days ago.”
Damian frowned.
“Why?”
“Maybe he discovered the fraud.”
“Or prepared to run,” Martin said.
Harris continued.
“He also sent an encrypted email to Vanessa last night.”
Elena stiffened.
“What did it say?”
“We haven’t opened it yet.”
Damian looked furious.
“What can you do quickly?”
“Not magic.”
“Try technology.”
Harris almost smiled.
Almost.
An hour later the encryption broke.
The message contained one sentence.
I WON’T FRAME ELENA. FIND SOMEONE ELSE.
Elena stared at the screen.
“He knew.”
Damian nodded.
“He knew everything.”
“Then where is he?”
Nobody answered.
Until the front doorbell rang.
Security immediately checked the cameras.
A man stood outside.
Blood on his shirt.
Robert.
They let him in.
He stumbled through the foyer.
“Elena.”
She stood.
Robert looked awful.
One eye swollen.
A cut across his forehead.
“I’m sorry.”
Elena’s anger hit before sympathy.
“You knew.”
He nodded.
“You knew she was framing me.”
“Yes.”
“And you said nothing?”
“I was scared.”
“You were scared?”
Her voice rose.
“My daughter had cameras inside our home!”
“I didn’t know about that.”
“You knew enough!”
Damian stepped between them gently.
“Elena.”
She glared at him.
“Don’t.”
He stepped back.
Robert lowered his head.
“I deserve that.”
Harris asked, “What happened?”
Robert sat.
“Vanessa contacted me eight months ago. She said Damian wanted certain transfers hidden during an acquisition.”
Damian’s face hardened.
“I never—”
“I know that now.”
Robert continued.
“She paid me.”
“How much?” Elena asked.
“Two hundred thousand.”
Elena laughed bitterly.
“You sold me for two hundred thousand?”
“No.”
“You helped her use my identity.”
“I processed documents. I didn’t know whose identity she’d use until later.”
“And then?”
“I tried to stop.”
Harris leaned closer.
“Who attacked you?”
“Preston Vale.”
Damian went still.
“Where?”
“A warehouse near Beacon.”
“Vanessa?”
“She was there.”
Alive.
Everyone exhaled.
Robert continued.
“They fought.”
“About what?”
“Vanessa wanted out.”
Damian frowned.
“Why?”
“Because Preston changed the plan.”
Elena’s skin prickled.
“What plan?”
Robert looked at Mia sleeping in her arms.
Then at Elena.
He hesitated.
“Say it.”
Robert swallowed.
“The original plan was financial.”
“And now?”
“He wants Damian dead.”
Silence.
Damian didn’t react.
Elena did.
“When?”
Robert looked at the clock.
“Tonight.”
Damian’s face changed.
“What does he know?”
Robert answered.
May you like
“Everything about this house.”
Then the lights went out.
