Chapter 12 - THE CHAIRMAN
Graham Voss had known Ethan since childhood.
He had taught him how to sail.
He had attended his graduation.
He had given a speech at Ethan and Amelia’s wedding.
He had held Sophie as a newborn.
And he had stood beside Ethan at Amelia’s grave.
Now his name appeared in a dead nurse’s email.
Detective Collins obtained warrants.
Financial investigators traced the shell companies.
At the center of nearly every transaction was a holding company controlled by Graham Voss.
The Chairman.
Ethan wanted to confront him immediately.
Collins refused.
“We need him to move.”
“What do you mean?”
“If we arrest him now, he’ll deny everything.”
“You have the accounts.”
“For fraud.”
“What about Amelia?”
“We need direct evidence.”
Ethan looked toward the window.
“What kind?”
“A confession.”
They already had one advantage.
Graham did not know the silver drive had been found.
He did not know Richard was cooperating.
And he believed Celeste might still complete the Zurich transfer.
Police arranged a controlled release.
Celeste agreed after prosecutors offered consideration for cooperation.
Not immunity.
Consideration.
She called Graham.
The conversation was recorded.
“I can still get Sophie out.”
Graham’s voice came through cold and irritated.
“You failed once.”
“Ethan came home early.”
“Where is the ledger?”
“With police.”
Silence.
Then Graham spoke.
“Then this is over.”
“No.”
Celeste looked toward Collins.
“I know where Amelia kept the medical files.”
Another pause.
“Where?”
Celeste smiled nervously.
“She left a copy.”
Graham’s voice changed.
“When can you get it?”
“Tonight.”
“Bring it to the house.”
“What house?”
“You know which one.”
The call ended.
Ethan frowned.
“What house?”
Celeste looked at him.
“The lake house.”
Graham owned a private property in western Connecticut.
No cameras.
No nearby neighbors.
Perfect for a man who wanted conversations to disappear.
Police prepared the operation.
Ethan insisted on going.
Collins argued.
“No.”
“He’ll talk to Celeste.”
“That’s enough.”
“No.”
“Ethan.”
“If Graham admits what happened to Amelia, I need to hear it.”
Collins studied him.
“This isn’t revenge.”
“I know.”
“If you lose control, we pull you out.”
“I understand.”
Celeste wore a wire.
Ethan waited in a surveillance vehicle half a mile away.
At 9:14 p.m., she entered Graham’s lake house.
The audio began.
Graham spoke first.
“You look terrible.”
Celeste answered.
“I spent a night in jail.”
“You deserve worse.”
“Where’s Victor?”
“Gone.”
“Gone where?”
“Not your concern.”
“You sent him after Sophie.”
“I sent him after the ledger.”
“She’s six.”
“And yet she has caused us more trouble than her mother ever did.”
Ethan’s fists clenched.
Collins watched him.
Inside the house, Celeste continued.
“You killed Amelia because she found the accounts.”
Graham laughed.
“No.”
“Victor killed Amelia because he panicked.”
“You ordered it.”
“I ordered Richard to contain her.”
“That isn’t an answer.”
“It’s the only one you get.”
Celeste paused.
“What about the hospital?”
Silence.
Ethan stopped breathing.
Then Graham said it.
“She should have died in the car.”
“When she didn’t, Victor solved the problem.”
Ethan shut his eyes.
Collins placed one hand on his shoulder.
They had it.
Then Graham spoke again.
“And now we solve Sophie.”
Ethan’s eyes opened.
May you like
Collins raised her radio.
Before she could speak, a gunshot exploded through the wire.
