Chapter 15 - Patricia's Version
Patricia did not get far.
Agents caught her at the rear gate.
She did not fight.
She did not look surprised.
At the federal office, she asked to speak with Vanessa alone.
Vanessa refused.
"Anything you say, Daniel hears."
Patricia studied her daughter.
"You always were sentimental."
Patricia denied harming Robert.
She admitted controlling the royalty network.
"William built it," she said. "Martin maintained it. Robert benefited from it. Don't pretend your family was innocent."
Daniel nodded.
"They weren't."
"But their guilt doesn't erase yours," he said.
Patricia looked at Vanessa.
"I kept you alive after your father destroyed everything."
"With stolen money?"
"With money owed to us."
"Nine million dollars?"
"A fraction."
Vanessa laughed through tears.
"You told me we were broke."
"Because you needed anger."
The room went quiet.
Patricia had cultivated Vanessa's resentment toward the Stellans for years because anger made her useful.
The charity dinner was arranged.
The early network access was arranged.
Even some of Vanessa's discoveries about Daniel had been fed to her.
"And the original plan to kill him?" Vanessa asked.
Patricia's face remained still.
"I never said kill."
"Loss event."
"An accident. An incapacity. A scandal. There were options."
Daniel felt nauseated by how calmly she said it.
"Did you kill Robert?"
Patricia looked at him.
"No."
Then she added, "Thomas did."
Everyone turned.
Patricia smiled faintly.
"Ask him why Robert's heart medication disappeared the night he died."
Thomas had left the building an hour earlier under supervision.
Evan called the agents assigned to him.
No answer.
Then an emergency alert came through.
May you like
Their vehicle had been found abandoned.
Thomas was gone again.
