Chapter 11 - ROBERT VALE
Robert Vale had died eight years earlier.
Official cause: heart attack.
Daniel had been thirty-one.
His father was fifty-eight.
“Dad had heart problems,” Daniel said.
We were back at the hospital.
“He had surgery two years before.”
Detective Owens sat across from us.
“Victor Mercer wants a deal.”
Daniel laughed bitterly.
“Of course he does.”
“He says your father’s death wasn’t natural.”
“And you believe him?”
“I believe men facing federal charges become very interested in other people’s crimes.”
Owens opened a folder.
“Robert had a toxicology test.”
Daniel frowned.
“I never saw one.”
“Neither did the police.”
My stomach tightened.
“Why?”
“Because the death was certified by his private physician.”
Daniel went still.
“Dr. Harlan.”
Owens nodded.
“Who recommended him?”
Daniel knew before she said it.
“My mother.”
That evening, Daniel confronted Vivian at the Vale house.
I went with him.
Mia stayed with Claire.
Vivian stood in the library beside a photograph of Robert.
Daniel placed Victor’s statement on the desk.
“Tell me he’s lying.”
Vivian read it.
Her hands began to shake.
“Tell me.”
“I didn’t kill your father.”
“Did you know he was being drugged?”
“No.”
“Did you know Victor threatened him?”
“Yes.”
Daniel closed his eyes.
“You knew.”
“I thought Victor was bluffing.”
“You thought wrong.”
Vivian sat down.
For once, there was no armor left.
“I loved your father.”
Daniel’s voice cracked.
“Then why did you help Victor?”
“Because Robert was going to destroy everything.”
“What everything?”
“The company. Our name. Thousands of jobs.”
“By exposing theft?”
“Victor had contracts tied into Vale Industries. Banks were involved. Politicians. Partners.”
“So you chose the company.”
Vivian looked at him.
“I chose what I thought would survive.”
“And Elena?”
She swallowed.
“She became part of it.”
“No.”
I stepped forward.
“I became convenient.”
Vivian looked at me.
“You hated me before I ever found those numbers.”
“Yes.”
At least she finally admitted it.
“Why?”
Her eyes moved to Daniel.
“Because he loved you more than he needed me.”
Silence.
There it was.
Not business.
Not class.
Not protection.
Something smaller.
Sad older than all of it.
Control.
Vivian’s eyes filled.
“I had spent my entire life building that family.”
Daniel whispered, “Families aren’t companies.”
“I know that now.”
“You knew Mia existed.”
“Yes.”
“You let me bury Dad while my daughter was living twenty minutes away.”
Vivian began crying.
“I know.”
Daniel turned away.
His shoulders shook.
I had never seen grief and rage live inside one person like that.
Vivian opened a drawer.
“There’s something else.”
She removed a key.
Daniel looked at it.
“What is that?”
“Your father kept a safe-deposit box.”
“Where?”
“Lake Federal.”
“What’s inside?”
“I don’t know.”
Daniel stared at her.
“You expect me to believe that?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because he changed the access code two weeks before he died.”
She put the key on the desk.
“He left instructions.”
“For who?”
May you like
Vivian looked at me.
“Elena.”
