Chapter 10 - VICTORIA CHANGES SIDES
Victoria’s recordings lasted almost eleven hours.
They documented everything.
Evelyn instructing Victoria to meet Daniel.
Evelyn coaching her on his interests.
Evelyn paying her expenses.
Evelyn explaining how marriage could provide access to Daniel’s voting rights.
And Evelyn ordering her to enter the east-wing study.
But one recording was worse.
Evelyn’s voice was unmistakable.
“If Clara refuses to resign, we use the accident option.”
Victoria’s recorded voice asked.
“What accident?”
Evelyn answered.
“Something convincing.”
Daniel stood abruptly.
Clara remained frozen.
Nathan looked toward the investigators.
The investigation changed immediately.
This was no longer only financial fraud.
Victoria agreed to cooperate.
She admitted everything.
Almost everything.
Then an investigator asked about Edward’s death.
Victoria’s face changed.
“I don’t know anything about that.”
Clara watched her.
“You’re lying.”
“I’m not.”
“Victoria.”
“I swear.”
But Clara had learned Victoria’s tells.
The tightening jaw.
The lowered eyes.
The fingers twisting together.
“You know something.”
Victoria started crying.
“Evelyn once got drunk.”
“When?”
“About seven months ago.”
“She said…”
Victoria stopped.
Daniel stepped closer.
“What did she say?”
“She said your father should have listened when he had the chance.”
Clara felt cold.
“Anything else?”
Victoria nodded.
“She said…”
“Edward learned what happens to people who mistake family for mercy.”
The room went silent.
Investigators reopened the records surrounding Edward’s death.
His hotel room.
His autopsy.
His meals.
His medication.
Everything.
Three days later, they found something.
Edward had been taking prescription heart medication.
The toxicology report showed an unusually high concentration.
At the time, investigators assumed he accidentally took a double dose.
Now they were not so certain.
Hotel records showed Evelyn had visited Edward’s suite the night before his death.
She had never mentioned that visit.
Then came the photograph.
A hotel camera showed Evelyn leaving at 11:46 p.m.
Edward was found dead the following morning.
Daniel sat in Clara’s office staring at the image.
“She killed Dad.”
“We don’t know that yet.”
“You know it.”
Clara wanted to deny it.
She couldn’t.
Nathan entered suddenly.
“We have a problem.”
Clara stood.
“What?”
“Evelyn didn’t return home last night.”
Daniel frowned.
“Where is she?”
Nathan looked at Clara.
“We don’t know.”
Then Clara’s phone rang.
Unknown number.
She answered.
Evelyn’s voice whispered through the speaker.
“Come to Dad’s old lake house.”
“Alone.”
Clara’s eyes hardened.
“Why?”
Evelyn laughed softly.
“Because there is one thing your father never told you.”
The call ended.
A second later, a photograph arrived.
Daniel stared at it.
May you like
Their mother was tied to a chair.
And Evelyn stood behind her.
