Chapter 8 - THE MONSTER IN THE MIRROR
Dante listened to the recording again.
He knew the voice.
It was his.
But he had never said those words.
The file was dated two days before Elena's death.
Nico examined the recording.
"Someone could have edited it."
"Could they?"
"Yes. The audio has irregularities."
Dante looked at him.
"Find out who made it."
Norah was packing.
She had decided to leave the estate.
Tyler had been released after his statement was taken, and he was waiting at the gate with a rental car.
Norah didn't know where she would go.
She only knew she couldn't remain in a house where every answer seemed to lead to another lie.
Dante found her in the hallway.
"You're leaving."
"Yes."
"I won't stop you."
She looked surprised.
"Good."
"But I need you to hear something first."
He handed her the original recording file and the technical report.
"I didn't order Elena's death. Someone used my voice to make it appear that I did."
"Who?"
"I don't know yet."
"Your uncle?"
"Possibly."
Norah studied him.
"Why should I believe you?"
Dante didn't look away.
"You shouldn't believe me because I ask you to. Believe the evidence when we find it."
She looked down at the report.
For a moment, she almost stayed.
Then Tyler called from outside.
Norah picked up her bag.
"I need time."
Dante stepped aside.
"Take it."
She and Tyler drove to a small hotel outside the city.
For three hours, nothing happened.
Then Tyler went downstairs to buy coffee.
Norah received a call from an unknown number.
She answered.
A woman's voice whispered.
"Norah? It's Rachel Hayes."
Norah sat upright.
"Who?"
"Your mother's sister. I know what happened to Elena."
"Where are you?"
"Listen carefully. Don't trust Victor. Don't trust the police. And don't trust the man who saved you."
Norah's stomach tightened.
"Dante?"
"Especially him."
"Why?"
Rachel began crying.
"Because your father didn't die in an accident. He was investigating a murder, and the person who killed him was—"
The call cut off.
Norah immediately called back.
Disconnected.
A message arrived seconds later.
A photograph.
Rachel was sitting in the back of a car, her face bruised, a newspaper held open in front of her.
Today's date.
Under the photograph was a message:
COME ALONE IF YOU WANT THE TRUTH.
Norah stood.
She called Tyler.
No answer.
Then she heard a noise behind her.
The hotel room door opened.
Tyler walked in.
But he wasn't carrying coffee.
He was holding a gun.
May you like
"Norah," he said, his eyes full of tears.
"I'm sorry."
