Chapter 9 - The Lake House
The lake house sat three hours north of the city. I called it a crime scene now.
Federal agents got there first; the forged interstate transfers had expanded the case.
The drive was encrypted, but Selene had left a photo of a brass key beside the lake.
"Why would she help us?" Dad asked as our SUV turned onto the property.
"Because Julian scares her more than I hate her."
"Do you hate her?" Dad asked.
"Yes."
An agent led us to Julian's study.
They had found the brass key taped behind a painting.
It opened a floor compartment under his desk.
Inside was a hard drive, cash, a gun, and a folder labeled E.A.
My initials.
Maya put on gloves and opened it.
Photos slid across the desk.
Me at the gym, at lunch with Maya, at my father's office, asleep in my own bed.
My stomach turned.
"He had me followed."
Dad's voice became dangerous. "For years."
Maya lifted another page.
It was a typed schedule.
CAR SERVICE - BRAKE LINE.
DATE: JULY 18.
OUTCOME: INCONCLUSIVE.
Under it was another entry.
HOME INCIDENT - FALL / INTOXICATION.
DATE: TBD.
And below that:
CONTINGENCY - SELF-DEFENSE CLAIM / S.W. AS WITNESS.
Selene Ward.
Last night hadn't been spontaneous.
Julian had expected violence.
He had planned the story that would come after my body.
An agent entered. "We got partial access to the encrypted drive."
Maya looked up. "What did you find?"
"Payments to Chairman Richard Cole. Twelve transfers over four years."
Dad swore under his breath.
"Anything on Julian's location?" I asked.
The agent hesitated.
"No. But we found a scheduled email in his account. It goes out at noon if he doesn't cancel it."
"To who?"
He turned the laptop toward me.
TO: NATIONAL PRESS WIRE
May you like
SUBJECT: ELENA ARDEN - THE REAL ARCHITECT OF VALE MERIDIAN FRAUD
The countdown showed eleven minutes.
