Chapter 6
|
## The Witness Who Came Back From the Dead
Evelyn Cross was seventy-one years old, with silver hair, tired eyes, and a scar that ran from her jaw to her ear.
She refused to meet Dominic at the estate.
Instead, she agreed to speak in a secure room at the police station, with a detective present.
Clara sat beside Dominic while Marcus waited outside.
Evelyn studied Clara for a long moment.
Then she began to cry.
“You have your mother's eyes.”
Clara swallowed.
“You knew my mother?”
“I was Victoria's personal assistant. Margaret was her closest friend.”
Dominic leaned forward.
“Why was my mother meeting my father's lawyer in secret?”
Evelyn looked at him.
“Because your father discovered that someone was stealing from the family business. Victoria traced the missing money to a network of shell companies. She believed the person responsible was close enough to access both the accounts and the household.”
“Who?”
“I never saw the complete evidence. Victoria kept it hidden. She said that if anything happened to her, Margaret would know where to look.”
Clara touched the pendant around her neck.
“Is that why my mother kept this?”
Evelyn nodded.
“Victoria gave it to you when you were a child. It contains a tiny compartment. She told Margaret never to open it unless she feared for your safety.”
Clara examined the pendant. A narrow seam ran around its edge.
Dominic carefully opened it with a small tool.
Inside was a rolled strip of paper.
It contained a bank account number and the name of a storage company.
Evelyn closed her eyes.
“The original documents may still be there.”
“Why didn't you go to the police?” Dominic demanded.
“Because the detective investigating Victoria's death was being paid by the same people stealing the money.”
“Franklin Shaw?”
Evelyn nodded.
“He closed the case before the toxicology report was complete. Victoria's car had been tampered with, but the evidence disappeared.”
Dominic's hands curled into fists.
“Who ordered it?”
Evelyn hesitated.
“Your father suspected someone in the family. He believed it was your uncle, Richard. But Richard died three years ago.”
“And Vanessa?”
“I don't know how much she knew. She arrived after Victoria died, but she had connections to the people who managed the estate.”
Clara felt sick.
“Then why did she threaten my mother?”
Evelyn looked away.
“Margaret kept a copy of one document. It proved the money had been transferred to a trust for you. Someone wanted it back.”
Dominic stared at Clara.
His mother had left her money.
Not because Clara was a Moretti by blood, but because Victoria had apparently promised to protect her.
“Why?” he asked.
Evelyn's voice softened.
“Because Margaret saved Victoria's life once. When Victoria was pregnant, she suffered a medical emergency. Margaret stayed with her until help arrived. Victoria never forgot it.”
Clara wiped her eyes.
“My mother never told me.”
“She was afraid you would become a target.”
Evelyn slid a small key across the table.
“The storage unit is under Margaret's maiden name. If the contents are still there, you'll find the proof.”
Dominic took the key.
“Then we'll go tonight.”
“No.” Evelyn grabbed his wrist. “You don't understand. The person who attacked me knew I was going to speak to you.”
A detective entered with a sealed evidence bag.
Inside was a photograph of Evelyn leaving her apartment.
On the back, someone had written:
One witness is already dead. Don't make the same mistake.
Clara looked up.
“Who is the witness?”
Evelyn's face crumpled.
“My husband.”
Dominic went rigid.
“You told the police he died in a car accident.”
“He didn't.” Evelyn looked directly at him. “He was killed the night Victoria died.”
May you like
Then she whispered the words that changed everything.
“He wasn't the only person who survived that night.”
