Chapter 10 - THE CONFESSION THEY DIDN'T HAVE
Graham's accusation wasn't proof.
Victor knew that.
So did everyone else.
By sunrise, his attorneys had him out on bail for the financial charges.
The murder investigation remained open.
Audrey hated it.
Nicholas understood.
“You want him arrested now.”
“I want him somewhere he can't photograph Liam.”
“So do I.”
“Then do something.”
Nicholas looked at her.
The words came out sharper than she intended.
Audrey immediately said, “I'm sorry.”
His expression changed.
“No.”
She frowned.
“Don't apologize because you're angry.”
Her throat tightened.
He remembered.
The dining room.
The first night.
Every time she'd apologized for taking up space.
Audrey looked away.
“What can we do?”
“Make him talk.”
Nicholas's attorney hated the plan.
Federal investigators hated it more.
Which meant it was probably good.
Victor believed one piece of evidence remained missing.
The original audio recording from the private clinic where Thomas and Julian were taken after Harbor Nine.
No such recording existed.
Nicholas let Victor believe it did.
At noon, a message was deliberately leaked through an employee known to be loyal to Victor.
THE CLINIC TAPE WAS FOUND.
Forty-seven minutes later, Victor called Nicholas.
“I want to talk.”
Nicholas put the phone on speaker.
“About?”
“You know.”
“No.”
Victor's patience cracked.
“Don't play games.”
Nicholas looked at Audrey.
She remained silent.
Victor continued.
“Whatever Graham told investigators was desperation.”
“He said you shot Thomas Fallon.”
“He's lying.”
“Then you have nothing to worry about.”
A pause.
“Where's the tape?”
Nicholas smiled.
Audrey saw it.
Victor had asked the wrong question.
“Why would you care?”
Silence.
Then:
“Meet me.”
That night, Nicholas went to an empty Rainer restaurant.
He wore a wire.
Federal investigators occupied the building next door.
Audrey stayed with them.
Not because Nicholas ordered it.
Because she chose to.
Victor sat alone at the bar.
“You've always been too emotional,” he told Nicholas.
“My father said I was cold.”
“Your father was weak.”
Nicholas poured water.
“Did you poison him?”
Victor laughed.
“No.”
It didn't sound convincing.
“Did Graham alter his medication?”
Silence.
Nicholas continued.
“Did you kill Julian?”
Victor's face tightened.
“Julian killed himself the moment he decided to betray this family.”
Everyone in the surveillance room went still.
Audrey's pulse jumped.
Nicholas stayed calm.
“So you admit you were at the clinic.”
Victor realized the mistake.
His jaw clenched.
Nicholas leaned forward.
“What happened to Thomas?”
“He should have stayed out of family business.”
Audrey's eyes burned.
Nicholas's voice lowered.
“He had two children.”
“Then he should have thought about them.”
There.
Not a direct confession.
But close.
Nicholas pushed harder.
“Graham says you shot him.”
Victor's expression turned contemptuous.
“Graham couldn't do what needed to be done.”
Audrey covered her mouth.
Victor continued.
“Thomas wouldn't give me the key. Julian wouldn't give me the ledger. They thought principles made them brave.”
Nicholas's fists tightened.
Audrey whispered toward the microphone monitor.
“Don't.”
She didn't know whether he could hear.
Maybe he could.
Nicholas relaxed his hands.
“What did you do?”
Victor stared at him.
“I built you.”
Nicholas's expression changed.
Victor leaned closer.
“Julian was dead. Your father was useless. You were twenty-seven and furious. I gave you enemies. I gave you purpose. I made people afraid of your name.”
Nicholas looked almost disgusted.
“You made me believe another family killed my brother.”
“You needed something to hate.”
“And Thomas?”
Victor smiled faintly.
“Wrong place. Wrong loyalty.”
Federal agents moved.
Victor heard them too late.
Nicholas stood.
His uncle finally understood.
“There is no tape.”
“No.”
“You tricked me.”
Nicholas looked toward the hidden microphone.
“No.”
His voice became quiet.
“A maid did.”
Audrey almost laughed through her tears.
Victor was handcuffed.
As agents turned him toward the door, he looked at Nicholas.
“You think Audrey is innocent?”
Audrey's stomach tightened.
Victor smiled.
“Ask her what her mother accepted from me after Thomas died.”
Then he was gone.
Audrey stared through the surveillance glass.
Nicholas turned toward the camera.
Neither knew what Victor meant.
But Audrey remembered something.
After her father died, her mother had suddenly paid off the mortgage.
May you like
She had always said life insurance covered it.
Audrey had never asked to see the policy.
