Chapter 4 - HER MOTHER DIDN’T DIE BY ACCIDENT
Ava stopped moving.
“My mother died in a car accident.”
Daniel looked at her with terrible sadness.
“No.”
Ava’s voice hardened.
“She was driving home from work. A truck hit her car.”
“The brakes failed.”
“So?”
“They were cut.”
Ava stared at him.
“That’s a lie.”
“I wish it were.”
She stepped toward him.
“My mother died alone on the side of a highway.”
Daniel’s eyes filled.
“I know.”
“How?”
“I saw the police report.”
“You were watching us?”
Daniel said nothing.
Ava slapped him.
The sound cracked through the room.
Daniel didn’t move.
Victor didn’t interfere.
Ava’s chest rose and fell.
“You watched us struggle?”
“I kept my distance to keep you alive.”
“My mom worked until her hands bled!”
“I sent money.”
Ava laughed bitterly.
“We were broke.”
Daniel turned toward Marcus.
Marcus looked away.
Ava caught it.
“What?”
Daniel’s expression changed.
“You never received it?”
Ava looked at Marcus.
“What money?”
Marcus said quietly, “Daniel sent payments through a trust.”
“How much?”
Silence.
“How much?”
Marcus answered.
“Nearly two million dollars over eighteen years.”
Ava stared at him.
“We got nothing.”
Victor swore under his breath.
Daniel grabbed Marcus by the jacket.
“You said they were protected.”
Marcus shoved him back.
“I believed they were.”
“Who handled the trust?”
Marcus went still.
Victor already knew the answer.
“Crowe.”
The room fell silent.
Ava looked toward the hallway.
“The restaurant security guy?”
Marcus nodded.
“His father managed Hale family security before him.”
Daniel’s face darkened.
“And finances connected to off-book accounts.”
Victor walked toward the door.
Marcus stopped him.
“If Crowe stole the money, confronting him now could make things worse.”
Victor laughed without humor.
“Worse?”
Ava spoke suddenly.
“My mother kept records.”
Everyone turned.
“Records of what?” Daniel asked.
“I don’t know. A box.”
“Where?”
“In storage.”
Daniel stepped closer.
“What kind of box?”
“Old tax papers. Letters. Maybe photographs.”
Marcus looked at Victor.
“If Elena kept documents—”
“She kept everything,” Ava said. “She was paranoid about paperwork.”
Daniel’s eyes widened.
“That wasn’t paranoia.”
Ava looked at him.
“What are you saying?”
Daniel lowered his voice.
“Elena knew why the warehouse exploded.”
Victor stared.
“You told me the explosion was an accident.”
Daniel laughed bitterly.
“I lied.”
Marcus walked toward the door and locked it.
Ava noticed.
“What happened?”
Daniel looked at Victor.
“Our father was laundering millions through shell companies.”
Victor’s expression hardened.
Daniel continued.
“Elena discovered it.”
Victor shook his head.
“Dad was a businessman.”
“He was a criminal.”
Victor took a step toward him.
“Careful.”
“I’m twenty-seven years past careful.”
Daniel pointed toward Ava.
“Elena found ledgers proving the Hale company was moving money for politicians, union bosses, and organized crime.”
Ava stared.
“And you?”
“I helped her copy them.”
Victor’s face drained.
Daniel continued.
“The warehouse burned the night we planned to expose everything.”
Marcus whispered, “And somebody knew.”
A noise came from the baby carrier.
Ava turned.
Noah had stopped crying.
He was staring toward the doorway.
The handle slowly moved.
Someone was trying to enter.
Marcus drew his weapon.
“Stay behind me.”
Victor stepped sideways.
May you like
The door exploded inward.
And Martin Crowe came through holding a gun.
