Chapter 12 - JULIAN’S LAST DEAL
Marcus Vale fell.
Chaos exploded.
Police moved in.
Julian disappeared through a side corridor.
Vale survived.
Barely.
The bullet struck below his shoulder blade.
At the hospital, he agreed to talk.
Not because he regretted anything.
Because Julian had betrayed him.
According to Vale, Julian had approached him nine months earlier.
Julian knew about Dad’s past through old files discovered during a business transaction.
He offered Vale money.
A lot of money.
The original plan was simple.
Damage my brakes.
Make the death look accidental.
Collect insurance.
Destroy Dad emotionally.
But Vanessa panicked after the crash.
Then I survived.
Everything became messy.
“So Julian ordered the hospital attack?” I asked.
Vale nodded from his bed.
“He wanted you dead before you could recover enough to start asking questions.”
“And Vanessa?”
Vale looked away.
“He killed her.”
My stomach turned.
“How?”
“She wanted to go to the police.”
Vale swallowed.
“Julian met her at the motel.”
Detective Grant recorded every word.
The case against my husband became overwhelming.
Attempted murder.
Conspiracy.
Fraud.
Kidnapping.
Witness intimidation.
Murder.
But Julian was still missing.
Three days passed.
Then four.
My physical therapist finally got me standing between parallel bars.
The pain was brutal.
I cried.
But I stood.
Ten seconds.
Then twenty.
Chloe cheered beside me.
“Go, Mommy!”
For the first time since the crash, I felt like my body belonged to me again.
Dad stood near the doorway.
He looked proud.
That evening, my doctor said I could eventually recover much of my mobility.
Months of therapy.
Possibly more surgery.
But I would walk again.
I cried harder hearing that than I had when they told me my legs were broken.
Then Dad handed me another piece of news.
Julian’s company had filed for bankruptcy.
His assets were frozen.
Our joint accounts were under investigation.
“But you’ll be okay,” Dad said.
“How?”
“Your mother left you assets Julian never controlled.”
I stared at him.
“What assets?”
He smiled faintly.
“Your mother knew enough about my work to distrust complicated men.”
Despite everything, I laughed.
That sounded like her.
Then my hospital phone rang.
The room went quiet.
Private number.
Grant was immediately alerted.
I answered.
Julian.
“You look better.”
My skin prickled.
“How do you know?”
“I’ve always watched you.”
I looked toward the window.
Curtains closed.
Security outside.
“Where are you?”
“Does it matter?”
“Yes.”
He laughed.
“You were never supposed to become this difficult.”
“You were never supposed to become a murderer.”
Silence.
Then his voice hardened.
“You think your father saved you?”
“No.”
I looked at Chloe.
“I saved myself when I finally stopped believing you.”
Another silence.
That one hurt him.
Good.
Then Julian whispered,
“You took everything from me.”
“No.”
I said it slowly.
“You lost everything because you tried to kill your wife for money.”
His breathing changed.
For the first time, I heard desperation.
“I want to see Chloe.”
“No.”
“She’s my daughter.”
“She’s terrified of you.”
“She needs her father.”
“She needs to survive her father.”
Julian screamed something and slammed the phone against something.
Then he became quiet again.
“Tomorrow, Audrey.”
“What?”
“You and I are going to finish this tomorrow.”
The line disconnected.
Grant traced the call.
She looked at me.
“He’s in the city.”
“How close?”
May you like
Her face hardened.
“Very.”
