Chapter 5 - THE WOMAN WHO REMEMBERED
Nora Bell lived on the fourth floor of a modest care home in Brooklyn. She had worked for Hale Development for thirty-two years, first as a secretary and later as Richard Hale’s assistant.
When Victoria entered her room with Detective Ortiz, Nora stared at her.
“You look like your mother,” she said.
Victoria sat down. “Did you know Caroline was alive?”
Nora closed her eyes. “I hoped she was.”
“Then why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because the last person I told was Evan Miles. He promised to find her. After that, somebody started calling my room.”
Ortiz pulled up a chair. “Tell us about the fire.”
Nora’s hands shook around her paper cup. Richard had been buying damaged apartment buildings through shell companies. He promised repairs, then pushed tenants out and sold the properties for a profit. Caroline found payment records and tenant complaints that had been hidden from the board.
“She copied everything,” Nora said. “Richard found out. He told Evan to get the copies back.”
“And the fire?” Victoria asked.
“Richard ordered it. I heard him.”
Victoria felt the room tilt. “Caroline called me that night.”
“She tried to come to you. Evan intercepted her at the office.” Nora’s voice grew thin. “He later told me she got away. He said Richard’s men went after her.”
“What men?”
Nora glanced at the door. “Daniel Cross was one of them. Young then. Eager to impress your father.”
Victoria had trusted Daniel with every legal matter in her life.
Ortiz asked about the car in the river. Nora shook her head. “I only know Richard came back the next day saying it was over.”
A nurse appeared in the doorway. “Ms. Bell, your medication.”
Nora looked up and went rigid.
May you like
“That’s not my nurse.”
The woman dropped the paper cup she was holding and ran.
