Chapter 4 - THE NIGHT DANIEL DIED
The ballroom erupted.
Board members demanded answers.
Guests lifted phones.
Victor’s attorneys rushed toward him.
Owen Price ordered hotel security to preserve every recording.
But Rachel heard almost none of it.
She was staring at Thomas.
“Say that again.”
Thomas swallowed.
“I saw Daniel wearing that ring the night he died.”
Rachel grabbed his arm.
“You were there?”
“Not at the dock.”
“Then where?”
“At the Hamptons house.”
Rachel stopped breathing.
The official police report said Daniel had spent that evening alone.
He had supposedly driven to the family house after a board dispute, walked down to the dock and fallen into the water sometime after midnight.
His death had been ruled accidental.
Rachel had never believed it emotionally.
But she had forced herself to accept it logically.
Now Thomas was telling her Daniel hadn’t been alone.
“Who else was there?”
Thomas looked at Victor.
Rachel followed his gaze.
Victor was speaking urgently with an attorney.
“Thomas.”
He looked back at her.
“Who was there?”
“Victor.”
Rachel felt the floor disappear beneath her.
“And me.”
She stared at him.
“Why did you lie?”
“Because I was afraid.”
“Of Victor?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Thomas lowered his voice.
“Daniel discovered money was disappearing from the foundation.”
Rachel’s skin went cold.
“How much?”
“At first, we thought three million.”
“At first?”
Thomas nodded.
“Then Daniel found shell companies.”
“How much, Thomas?”
“Almost forty-two million dollars.”
Rachel couldn’t speak.
Thomas continued.
“Daniel believed someone was moving foundation money through consulting contracts and fake property acquisitions.”
“Victor?”
“We didn’t know.”
“But Daniel suspected him.”
“Yes.”
Rachel looked toward Victor.
He was leaving.
Two attorneys surrounded him as he moved toward the ballroom doors.
Rachel shouted.
“Victor!”
He stopped.
Everyone turned.
Rachel walked toward him.
“Were you with Daniel the night he died?”
Victor stared at Thomas.
Then Rachel.
“Be very careful.”
“That isn’t an answer.”
Victor’s attorney stepped forward.
“My client will not respond to accusations regarding—”
“I wasn’t asking you.”
Rachel’s voice remained calm.
She looked directly at Victor.
“Were you there?”
Victor’s silence answered before his mouth did.
Finally he said,
“Yes.”
Rachel felt Emily move closer behind her.
“You told the police you weren’t.”
“My attorney advised—”
“You lied.”
“Daniel and I argued.”
“About what?”
“Business.”
“Forty-two million dollars?”
Victor looked at Thomas.
“You stupid old man.”
Thomas didn’t move.
Rachel’s heart pounded.
“What happened after the argument?”
Victor’s eyes returned to her.
“Daniel was alive when I left.”
“Was he wearing that ring?”
Victor looked down at his hand.
For the first time that evening, he seemed to realize how much damage one small object could do.
He slowly removed the ring.
“This proves nothing.”
Rachel held out her hand.
“Then give it to me.”
Victor closed his fist around it.
“No.”
Owen Price stepped closer.
“Mr. Bennett, I think it would be wise if you remained at the hotel until police arrive.”
Victor laughed.
“Police?”
“You planted a valuable item on a child and falsely reported a theft.”
Victor looked around.
The room that had belonged to him twenty minutes earlier no longer did.
Then Claire Morgan approached.
She was shaking.
“Victor.”
He turned.
Claire held a phone.
“There’s something you need to know.”
“What?”
She looked at Rachel.
Then Thomas.
Then back at Victor.
“The police aren’t coming because of the brooch.”
Victor went completely still.
May you like
Claire swallowed.
“They reopened Daniel’s case this afternoon.”
