Chapter 13 - THE VOICE FROM THE PAST
Elena’s grandfather’s voice filled the vault.
“If you’re hearing this, then Raymond Cole or his father has tried to access Elena’s trust.”
Raymond lunged for the recorder.
Elena stepped back.
“Don’t.”
He pointed the gun at her.
“Give it to me.”
The recording continued.
“The Cole family has been stealing from private estates for decades.”
Raymond’s face turned red.
Elena stared at him.
Her grandfather named accounts.
Companies.
Judges.
Bank officers.
Insurance brokers.
Then police officers.
A network.
Not one criminal.
Dozens.
Raymond reached for the recorder again.
Elena threw it across the room.
He spun toward it.
She ran.
He fired.
The bullet struck a cabinet.
Elena ducked behind the safe.
Raymond cursed.
“You stupid woman!”
She grabbed a metal lockbox and threw it.
It hit his wrist.
The gun fell.
Elena kicked it away.
Raymond hit her.
She slammed into the wall.
Pain exploded across her face.
He wrapped both hands around her throat.
“You should have died in that garage.”
Elena clawed at his eyes.
He squeezed harder.
Black spots filled her vision.
Then a gunshot.
Raymond froze.
Blood spread across his shoulder.
He collapsed.
Rachel stood in the doorway holding Nora’s gun.
Her hands shook violently.
“Get off my sister.”
Behind her, Nora leaned against the wall, one arm soaked in blood.
Elena crawled away.
Raymond groaned.
Nora kicked the gun away and handcuffed him.
“You’re under arrest.”
Raymond laughed through the pain.
“You think this ends with me?”
Nora pressed a knee into his back.
“It ends with you in a cell.”
“No.”
Raymond turned his head toward Elena.
“You still don’t get it.”
Elena wiped blood from her mouth.
“Get what?”
Raymond smiled.
“Daniel wasn’t working for me when he met you.”
Elena’s stomach tightened.
“What?”
“He worked for your mother.”
Silence.
Rachel stared.
“That’s impossible.”
Raymond laughed.
“Ask him.”
Elena shook her head.
“You’re lying.”
“Am I?”
He looked directly at her.
“Your mother paid Daniel to get close to you.”
Elena felt the room tilt.
“Why?”
Raymond’s smile faded.
“Because your mother didn’t trust you with twenty-three million dollars.”
Nora dragged him upright.
Elena barely heard her.
One thought drowned out everything else.
May you like
If Raymond was telling the truth, then her mother had been part of the lie too.
And Daniel had known from the beginning.
