Chapter 5 - The Woman Behind the Betrayal
Declan moved Sarah into a secure property outside Boston.
No phones.
No visitors.
No unnecessary staff.
He wanted her protected.
But Sarah hated being treated like a prisoner.
"I can't live behind armed guards forever."
"It's temporary."
"You said that yesterday."
"I know."
She stared at him.
"You can't protect everyone by controlling everything."
Declan looked away.
She was right.
Then Victor arrived.
"We found Rebecca."
"Where?"
"She was trying to leave the country."
Declan immediately went after her.
Rebecca was caught at Logan Airport.
Under interrogation, she broke.
"I didn't want to hurt Sarah."
"Then why?"
"They threatened my daughter."
"Who?"
"I don't know."
Declan leaned closer.
"Try again."
Rebecca cried.
"They said if I didn't put something in Sarah's coffee, they'd kill my daughter."
"What did you put in it?"
"Powder."
"Who gave it to you?"
"A woman."
"What woman?"
Rebecca hesitated.
Then whispered:
"Elena Hayes."
Declan froze.
Elena.
His father's second wife.
His stepmother.
She had vanished after Daniel's death.
Everyone believed she had moved to Switzerland.
"Where is she now?"
Rebecca gave him an address.
A private estate in Connecticut.
Declan drove there with Victor.
But the house was empty.
Except for one person.
Julian.
He was sitting in the library.
Declan raised his weapon.
"Stand up."
Julian slowly turned.
"You finally found me."
Declan lowered the gun slightly.
"You're working with Elena."
Julian laughed bitterly.
"No."
"Then explain."
Julian opened a drawer.
Inside were dozens of documents.
"I've been investigating her for two years."
Declan stared.
"You knew?"
"I suspected."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because I didn't trust you."
Declan looked at him.
Julian's voice cracked.
"Every time I tried to warn you, you treated me like an enemy."
Silence.
Julian pushed a folder across the desk.
"Your father wasn't killed by a heart attack."
Declan's world stopped.
"What?"
"He was poisoned."
"Who?"
"Elena."
Julian swallowed.
"And she wasn't working alone."
Declan opened the folder.
There were photographs.
Bank records.
Audio recordings.
And one photograph that made his blood run cold.
Elena stood beside a younger man.
The man was familiar.
Very familiar.
Declan stared.
"Who is that?"
May you like
Julian whispered:
"Your father's illegitimate son."
