Chapter 8 - THE BODYGUARD WHO KILLED THE KING
Roman did not deny it.
That frightened me more than denial would have.
Adrian stared at him.
“You killed my father?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because Evelyn asked me to.”
Damian swore softly.
Adrian’s jaw clenched.
“You served him for six years.”
“I hated him for five.”
“Why?”
Roman looked at me.
“Victor killed my sister.”
I went still.
“Who was she?”
“Caroline Hart.”
My breath stopped.
The woman who raised me.
Roman was her brother.
He continued.
“Caroline wasn’t just Victor’s accountant. She was collecting evidence.”
“The ledger,” I said.
“Yes.”
Adrian’s voice hardened.
“Victor found out.”
Roman nodded.
“He arranged her death.”
I felt cold everywhere.
“How did she die?”
“Hit-and-run.”
My memory flashed.
Police at the door.
A blanket around my shoulders.
Adults telling me it was fast.
Accidental.
It hadn’t been.
Roman’s voice tightened.
“I promised myself I would kill him someday.”
“And Evelyn gave you the opportunity,” Damian said.
“Yes.”
Adrian looked at Roman.
“How?”
“Victor had already been poisoned.”
“By Evelyn?”
“No.”
Everyone froze.
Adrian frowned.
“Then who?”
Roman looked at Damian.
“Your brother.”
Damian laughed once.
“Liar.”
Roman reached into his coat.
Adrian’s men immediately raised weapons.
“Easy.”
Roman removed an old medical report.
“Victor’s blood work.”
Adrian read it.
I couldn’t understand the numbers.
He could.
His expression changed.
“What is this?”
“Traces of thallium.”
Damian went pale.
Roman continued.
“I didn’t poison Victor. I ended it.”
“How?”
“I stopped his heart medication.”
Adrian looked sick.
“You let him die.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because he told me Caroline begged before he killed her.”
I closed my eyes.
Roman’s voice broke for the first time.
“I wanted him to know nobody was coming.”
Silence.
Adrian lowered the report.
“Why did Evelyn tell us you killed him?”
“Because she wants the truth out now.”
“Why now?”
“Because someone has the ledger.”
“The book.”
“Yes.”
I frowned.
“The ledger is inside Jane Eyre?”
Roman nodded.
“Caroline cut the center from the spine and inserted microfilm.”
I stared.
“My mother hid mafia evidence in a romance novel.”
Roman almost smiled.
“She knew Victor hated books.”
That sounded like her.
My eyes filled.
Adrian looked at Damian.
“You poisoned Victor.”
Damian shook his head.
“No.”
Roman frowned.
“Then explain the thallium.”
“I can’t.”
Adrian stepped closer.
“Who else had access?”
“His doctor.”
Roman said the name before Damian could.
“Dr. Samuel Keene.”
Adrian froze.
I noticed.
“Who is that?”
“Family physician.”
“Still alive?”
“Yes.”
Roman looked at Adrian.
“Still works for you.”
Adrian took out his phone.
No answer.
Again.
Nothing.
Then a message arrived from Dr. Keene.
A photograph.
Marcus tied to a chair.
Evelyn beside him.
Also restrained.
My heart stopped.
Below the image:
BRING ME THE BOOK OR YOUR FAMILY DIES.
Adrian looked at Roman.
“Keene poisoned Victor?”
Roman’s expression hardened.
“Yes.”
Damian stared.
“But why?”
Adrian’s phone buzzed again.
Second message.
VICTOR WASN’T THE REAL HEAD OF THE VALE EMPIRE.
May you like
Then one final line:
I AM.
