Chapter 11 - THE MAN WHO KILLED TWO DREAMS
Daniel Whitmore had destroyed my career.
And now there was evidence suggesting he might have been involved in Vivienne Cole's death.
Lucas stood beside the window.
His hands were clenched.
For a moment, he looked like the dangerous man everyone feared.
But when he turned toward me, his voice was controlled.
“We're going to let the investigators handle this.”
I stared at him.
“Really?”
He gave a humorless smile.
“My old instincts would make everything worse.”
That surprised me.
For the first time, I saw him choosing something other than power.
Rebecca contacted Investigator Hayes.
The letter was submitted as evidence.
Within hours, detectives reopened several lines of inquiry into Vivienne's death.
Six years earlier, she had died after falling down a staircase at her private estate.
The incident had been ruled accidental.
But archived security records revealed that Daniel Whitmore had visited the property that evening.
His name had been removed from the official guest list.
Lucas stared at the footage.
“He was there.”
Rebecca nodded.
“And someone altered the records afterward.”
I looked toward the purple gown.
Vivienne had hidden her warning inside the dress.
Perhaps she had known her time was running out.
Then the investigators found something else.
A voicemail from Vivienne's phone, preserved in an old cloud backup.
Her voice filled the room.
“Daniel, I know what you've been doing.”
A man's voice answered.
“You should have left it alone.”
“I won't let you destroy Rose.”
“You don't understand what's at stake.”
“I understand perfectly.”
Then a loud crash sounded.
The recording ended.
Lucas closed his eyes.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Finally, he whispered:
“She knew.”
I stepped closer.
“Lucas…”
He shook his head.
“I spent six years believing she died because of a careless accident.”
His voice broke.
“And all that time, the people responsible were sitting at my table.”
I wanted to comfort him.
But I wasn't sure whether he would welcome it.
So I asked.
“Can I hold your hand?”
He looked at me.
Then nodded.
I took his hand.
For a moment, the most feared mafia boss in Chicago simply stood there, grieving his mother.
Then his phone rang.
Marcus, his head of security.
“Boss, we found Daniel Whitmore.”
Lucas straightened.
“Where?”
“At a private airfield outside Chicago.”
“Is he in custody?”
A pause.
Then Marcus answered.
“Yes.”
I exhaled.
But he continued.
“He was carrying a suitcase full of documents.”
Lucas frowned.
“What documents?”
Marcus's voice became tense.
“Original Cole House ownership records.”
I looked toward Rebecca.
Then Marcus added:
“And a signed statement from Margaret Voss.”
My stomach tightened.
“What does it say?” Lucas asked.
A long silence.
May you like
Then Marcus replied:
“Margaret claims she ordered Rose Carter's treatment records altered to make her death come sooner.”
