Chapter 6 - THE VIDEO
Daniel watched the clip six times.
He wanted it to change.
It didn’t.
Claire’s face.
Victor Hale.
Her voice.
Two million.
Daniel left the restaurant without finishing dinner.
Marcus called after him.
“Ask her!”
Daniel didn’t turn around.
Elena met him two blocks away in an SUV.
“You went off script.”
“Did you hear the conversation?”
“Yes.”
“What about the video?”
“We need the file.”
“He sent it to me.”
Elena held out her hand.
Daniel gave her the phone.
“I need the truth tonight.”
“You need evidence, not emotion.”
“I’m done being patient.”
“Daniel.”
He looked at her.
Elena spoke carefully.
“Marcus wanted you to see that video.”
“So?”
“So ask yourself why.”
Daniel looked out the window.
At home, Claire was sitting at the dining room table.
She looked up when Daniel entered.
“You saw Marcus.”
“Yes.”
She stood.
“What happened?”
Daniel placed his phone on the table.
Played the video.
Claire’s face changed.
Not guilt.
Something closer to shock.
Daniel watched her.
“What is that?”
“You tell me.”
“Where did you get this?”
“Marcus.”
Claire laughed once.
A sharp, disbelieving sound.
“Of course.”
“Is it real?”
“Yes.”
Daniel felt sick.
Claire stepped toward him.
“But it’s not what he says.”
“You keep saying that.”
“Because you keep getting half the story.”
“Then give me the whole thing!”
Claire shouted back.
“I WAS TRYING TO SCARE VICTOR.”
Daniel stopped.
Claire pointed at the phone.
“He knew I was digging. He approached me in that garage.”
“And you demanded two million dollars.”
“I demanded the amount I knew had passed through my account.”
“Why?”
“To make him think I wanted money.”
Daniel stared.
“You were pretending to blackmail him?”
“Yes.”
“That might be the stupidest thing you’ve ever done.”
“I know.”
“You could have been killed.”
“I know.”
“You could go to prison.”
“I know!”
Her voice broke.
Daniel turned away.
Claire wiped her eyes.
“I needed him to talk.”
“Did he?”
“Yes.”
Daniel turned back.
“What did he say?”
Claire went to a drawer.
Pulled out a tiny recorder.
“He said Marcus wasn’t running the entire operation.”
Daniel looked at it.
“What does that mean?”
“It means someone inside Sterling was helping him.”
“Victor?”
“He claimed he was just moving documents.”
“Who was above him?”
“He wouldn’t say.”
“Why?”
“Because he was afraid.”
Daniel laughed bitterly.
“So am I.”
Claire handed him the recorder.
Daniel pressed play.
Static.
Then Victor’s voice.
“You think Marcus is the dangerous one?”
Claire: “Isn’t he?”
Victor: “Marcus spends money. He doesn’t build systems.”
Claire: “Who does?”
Pause.
Victor: “Someone your husband trusts.”
Daniel replayed the last sentence.
Someone your husband trusts.
Then tires screamed outside.
Claire looked toward the front window.
Daniel heard the engine before he saw the headlights.
A black SUV jumped the curb.
It smashed through the front gate.
May you like
Daniel grabbed Claire and pulled her to the floor.
The first gunshot shattered the kitchen window.
