Chapter 13 - EVELYN’S LAST SECRET
Walter’s hand shook.
“Give me the tape.”
Daniel stepped in front of Colleen.
“You worked for Robert twenty-five years ago.”
Walter laughed nervously.
“I worked for George.”
“Then Robert bought you.”
“He bought everybody.”
Jessica stared at him.
“You sent Colleen to the penthouse.”
“I had no choice.”
“You always have a choice,” Colleen said.
Walter’s eyes flashed.
“Easy for you to say.”
“Robert had my daughter followed.”
“My grandson.”
“My wife.”
“Every time I tried leaving, he reminded me exactly where they were.”
His gun lowered slightly.
“I reassigned you because he ordered me to.”
“Why did you warn me about the footage?”
Walter swallowed.
“Because I was tired.”
Colleen studied him.
“You could help us now.”
“No.”
“You already did.”
Robert’s recorded confession from the tower had implicated Walter.
Federal investigators were searching for him.
Walter looked exhausted.
“I need that tape.”
“What’s on it?”
His eyes moved toward the envelope.
“Your mother.”
Daniel went pale.
Walter continued.
“Evelyn witnessed George’s murder.”
Silence.
“Robert poisoned his father?”
“No.”
Walter looked sick.
“He pushed him.”
Daniel closed his eyes.
Walter’s voice cracked.
“They argued on the terrace.”
“George told Robert he was removing him from the company.”
“Robert hit him.”
“George fell against the railing.”
“It broke.”
Daniel whispered, “I knew it.”
Walter shook his head.
“You didn’t know everything.”
“What else?”
“Evelyn was there.”
Colleen stopped breathing.
Walter pointed toward the videotape.
“She recorded a statement the next morning.”
“Why didn’t she go to police?”
“She tried.”
Walter looked at Colleen.
“The detective she contacted worked for Robert.”
Jessica whispered, “Of course.”
“Robert learned about the statement.”
“He threatened Daniel.”
“He threatened Evelyn.”
“And he made one final threat.”
Walter looked directly at Colleen.
“You.”
Colleen’s throat tightened.
“So Mom ran.”
“Yes.”
Daniel’s eyes were wet.
“And I disappeared.”
Walter nodded.
For a moment, everyone understood how Robert had built his power.
Not through brilliance.
Through fear.
A hundred frightened people making one frightened decision at a time.
Colleen stepped closer.
“Walter.”
He tightened his grip on the gun.
“You don’t have to keep making the same decision.”
His eyes filled.
Then he slowly lowered the weapon.
Ethan exhaled.
Walter handed Colleen the tape.
“Finish it.”
A shot rang out.
Walter jerked.
Blood bloomed across his chest.
People screamed across the terminal.
Daniel tackled Colleen behind a pillar.
Jessica dropped beside Ethan.
Another bullet shattered the locker door.
A sniper.
Walter collapsed.
Colleen crawled toward him.
“Walter!”
He grabbed her sleeve.
“One more thing.”
Blood touched his lips.
“Robert wasn't working alone.”
“Who?”
Walter struggled to breathe.
“The senator.”
“What senator?”
Walter whispered a name.
And every person around him went still.
May you like
Senator Charles Vance.
The man currently leading the public investigation into Robert Langford.
