Chapter 9 - The Man Behind the Family
Charles closed the door.
The officer beside Claire moved forward.
“Mr. Bennett, stay where you are.”
Charles raised both hands.
“I’m unarmed.”
“Then step away.”
Claire held the ledger behind her.
Charles looked at her.
“You were always going to be a problem.”
Claire remembered the file.
Difficult to control.
“You mean because I ask questions?”
“Because Daniel listens to you.”
“That sounds like a Daniel problem.”
Even now, Charles almost smiled.
“You’re clever.”
“No.”
Claire shook her head.
“I just don’t think being rich makes you smarter than everyone else.”
The officer ordered Charles against the wall.
He complied.
Too easily.
Claire realized why a second too late.
The fire alarm stopped.
Then the lights went out.
Complete darkness.
Something struck the officer.
Claire heard him fall.
She ran.
Charles caught the back of her dress.
Fabric tore.
Claire twisted free and reached the hallway.
Emergency lights returned.
Charles followed.
“Give me the ledger!”
Claire ran toward the stairwell.
She didn’t scream.
She needed air for running.
Then she saw Noah.
He had come back.
The first officer was with him.
“Claire!”
Charles stopped.
For the first time, his expression broke.
“Noah.”
The boy moved behind the officer.
Charles softened his voice.
“Come here, buddy.”
Noah shook his head.
“You scared Dad.”
“Your father misunderstood things.”
“You hurt Rachel.”
Charles’s face tightened.
The officer raised his weapon but kept it pointed downward.
“Mr. Bennett, hands where I can see them.”
Charles looked toward the stairwell.
Then toward Claire.
No escape.
But he smiled.
“You think that notebook destroys me?”
Claire held it tightly.
“I think you wouldn’t be chasing me if it didn’t.”
Charles laughed.
“Half the people named in there will deny everything.”
“Then they can explain it to a jury.”
His smile disappeared.
“You really think Daniel will let you destroy his family?”
A voice came from the stairwell.
“She is my family.”
Daniel.
He stood beside Detective Hale.
Charles stared at his younger son.
“Daniel.”
“Move away from my wife.”
Charles’s face hardened.
“Everything I did was for you and Michael.”
Michael’s voice suddenly came from Daniel’s phone.
“No, Dad.”
Everyone froze.
Daniel had Michael on speaker.
Weak but unmistakable.
“You did it for yourself.”
Charles stared at the phone.
Michael continued.
“And I recorded everything you told Vanessa six months ago.”
Charles went pale.
Claire looked at Daniel.
Daniel smiled without humor.
“The camera wasn’t Michael’s only insurance.”
Detective Hale stepped forward.
“Charles Bennett, turn around.”
Charles didn’t move.
Then Noah spoke.
“Grandpa?”
Charles looked at him.
The boy’s voice trembled.
May you like
“Did you tell Mom to hurt Dad?”
For the first time that night, Charles Bennett had no answer.
