Chapter 9 - THE FAMILY COUNCIL
Twenty-eight people attended the family council.
Audrey was not supposed to be one of them.
She came anyway.
Nicholas looked at her black dress.
“You understand this isn't dinner service.”
“Yes.”
“You don't work tonight.”
“I know.”
“Then why are you carrying a folder?”
“Because men behave better when paperwork is involved.”
He stared at her.
Then laughed quietly.
The meeting took place in an old private dining room above a Rainer restaurant in Manhattan.
Victor sat at one end.
Nicholas at the other.
Arthur Vale was there.
So were two names from Thomas's list.
Men who had spent decades beside Nicholas's family.
Victor began gently.
“We are here because Nicholas has allowed personal emotion to destabilize an organization that supports hundreds of families.”
Audrey watched him.
He was good.
Very good.
Nicholas said nothing.
Victor continued.
“A household employee makes accusations against Graham Keene. Suddenly Graham is removed. Private family archives are searched. Historic accounts are reopened.”
“Historic murders,” Nicholas corrected.
Victor sighed.
“There is no proof.”
Nicholas placed Julian's ledger on the table.
Victor's face changed.
Only slightly.
Audrey saw it.
“So you recognize this.”
“I recognize my nephew's handwriting.”
“Good.”
Nicholas pushed copies toward the council.
“Then you'll recognize the transfers.”
Several men began reading.
Arthur Vale went pale.
Victor didn't.
“Julian was confused.”
Audrey almost spoke.
Nicholas beat her to it.
“My brother was many things. Confused wasn't one of them.”
Victor looked toward Audrey.
“And the maid?”
The room chilled.
Nicholas leaned back.
“Her name is Audrey.”
“Of course.”
Victor smiled at her.
“Miss Fallon, did Nicholas tell you your father stole money from this family?”
Audrey opened her folder.
“No.”
“He did.”
“No.”
Victor's smile weakened.
“I have records.”
“So do I.”
She passed copies of the cash serial numbers Graham had planted with Liam.
Then her father's payroll history.
Then the Harbor Nine footage.
Victor's face finally lost color.
Audrey continued.
“My father didn't steal from you. Someone withdrew cash after his death and spent twelve years trying to make it look as if he did.”
The room erupted.
Nicholas didn't raise his voice.
“Sit down.”
Everyone did.
Even Audrey almost did.
Victor stared at the frozen video image of Thomas and Julian escaping the fire.
“You have no footage of what happened afterward.”
“Not yet.”
That answer bothered him.
Good.
Then the dining-room doors opened.
Graham Keene walked in.
Audrey's body reacted before her mind.
Her shoulders tightened.
Her breath shortened.
Nicholas saw it.
He stood.
Graham stopped several yards away.
“No closer.”
Graham smiled.
“You really have changed.”
Nicholas's voice was ice.
“You put your hands on her.”
Graham looked at Audrey.
“I questioned an employee.”
Audrey's fear turned to anger.
“You threatened my brother.”
“You misunderstand—”
“No.”
Her voice shook.
She hated that.
She kept going.
“You grabbed me because you thought my dead father had left me evidence.”
Graham's smile disappeared.
“You should have given me the key.”
There.
Twenty-eight people heard it.
Nicholas looked almost satisfied.
Victor didn't.
“Graham,” he said sharply.
Too late.
Graham realized what he'd admitted.
Then Nicholas's attorney stood at the back of the room.
“You've just confirmed knowledge of evidence that Mr. Fallon concealed before his death.”
Graham reached inside his jacket.
Three people moved.
Nicholas was fastest.
He crossed the space, caught Graham's wrist, and slammed it against the table.
A gun hit the floor.
Audrey stepped backward.
Nicholas kicked the weapon away.
For one terrible second, she saw the man his enemies feared.
He could have killed Graham.
Everyone knew it.
Instead Nicholas released him.
“Not tonight.”
Graham laughed breathlessly.
“You think handing us to prosecutors makes you better than us?”
Nicholas straightened.
“No.”
He looked at Audrey.
“It makes me finished with you.”
Then federal agents entered from the kitchen stairwell.
Victor stood.
“What is this?”
Nicholas looked at his uncle.
“The part where Julian finally gets his meeting.”
Graham was handcuffed.
Arthur Vale tried to leave.
He didn't make it downstairs.
Victor remained still.
The ledger alone wasn't enough to arrest him for murder.
But it was enough for financial charges and search warrants.
As Graham was led away, he looked at Audrey.
“You want to know how your father died?”
Nicholas turned.
Graham smiled.
“The fire didn't kill him.”
Audrey's stomach clenched.
“We know.”
That surprised him.
Then she asked:
“Did you?”
Graham's smile disappeared.
He looked toward Victor.
“No.”
Audrey felt the room narrow.
Graham spoke quietly.
“Victor shot Thomas himself.”
May you like
Victor went completely still.
And for the first time all night, Nicholas Rainer's uncle looked afraid.
