Chapter 17 - THE LAST LIE
We found Eleanor's trail leading to the harbor.
But she had disappeared.
Again.
This time, David refused to chase her blindly.
He opened Nathaniel's drive.
The files were encrypted.
Marcus tried breaking them.
Nothing.
Then I remembered the pendant.
The key.
I placed it beside the drive.
A hidden compartment opened.
Inside was a handwritten password.
My father's handwriting.
David stared at it.
“Your father knew this would happen.”
I entered the password.
The files opened.
Hundreds of recordings.
The first showed David's father.
The second showed Nathaniel.
The third showed Eleanor.
Then my father appeared.
Alive.
Years before his death.
He was talking directly to the camera.
“If Catherine ever sees this, tell her I'm sorry.”
I covered my mouth.
He continued.
“I didn't abandon you.”
Tears filled my eyes.
“I ran because Eleanor found me.”
David looked at the screen.
My father continued.
“She wanted the master ledger.”
“I refused.”
“She threatened Catherine.”
David whispered:
“That's why he disappeared.”
My father nodded on the screen.
“I made a deal.”
“I would hide the ledger.”
“In exchange, she would leave my daughter alone.”
The video ended.
Another opened.
Eleanor.
She was younger.
She was standing beside David's father.
He said:
“Once the children are adults, we bring them together.”
I froze.
David looked at me.
“Our marriage.”
The implication was horrifying.
Were we manipulated into meeting?
Into loving each other?
Into becoming the final key?
Then another video began.
This one showed David.
At twenty-three.
Years before he met me.
He was already investigating his father's organization.
Then I saw something unexpected.
David wasn't alone.
He was working with Alessandro.
Alessandro looked directly at the camera.
“David, if you're watching this, the plan worked.”
David's face went white.
“You knew.”
Alessandro said nothing.
“You knew my mother.”
“Yes.”
“You knew Catherine's father.”
“Yes.”
“You knew we were being watched.”
“Yes.”
David stepped toward him.
“And you let me believe you saved me by accident.”
Alessandro lowered his eyes.
“I saved you.”
“But you knew everything.”
“I knew enough.”
David's voice broke.
“You used me.”
Alessandro answered quietly.
“I used everyone.”
Silence.
Then the final video appeared.
Eleanor.
She looked directly into the camera.
“Catherine.”
I stepped closer.
“If you are seeing this, it means David finally knows.”
She smiled sadly.
“There is one final truth.”
The screen went black.
Then a sentence appeared:
THE PERSON WHO ORDERED YOUR FATHER'S DEATH IS STILL ALIVE.
A second line appeared.
AND SHE IS STANDING BESIDE YOU.
I looked around.
Marcus.
David.
Alessandro.
No one moved.
Then Marcus suddenly raised his weapon.
Not at me.
At Alessandro.
“You.”
Alessandro stared at him.
May you like
Marcus whispered:
“You ordered the hit.”
