Chapter 11 - The Second Message
The second message didn't go to the press.
It went to Richard Cole.
IF I GO DOWN, YOU GO DOWN. DRIVE COPY IS WITH ELENA. CLEAN IT UP.
"Clean it up," Dad said. "Meaning evidence?"
Daniel shook his head. "Or Elena."
Agents moved us to an interior room while state police protected Selene.
He was seventy-two, silver-haired, with a grandfather smile. He had toasted my wedding.
"Call him," I said.
Dad looked at me. "No."
"He's waiting to see what we know. Let him hear my voice."
Maya considered it. "We can record with consent from Elena. Depending on jurisdiction, we need—"
Two minutes later, Richard answered on a recorded line.
"Elena. Thank God. I heard there was an incident."
"Richard, Julian told me everything."
Silence.
Then: "I'm not sure what you mean."
"The payments. The shell vendors. The debt manipulation."
Another pause.
"You're injured. This is not a good time for business."
"Where are you?"
There.
"Safe."
His voice cooled by one degree. "Elena, your husband is unstable. If he sent you documents, do not open them. They may expose you to criminal liability."
"You sound worried about me."
"I am."
"Then why did Julian send you a message telling you to clean me up?"
Richard went silent.
Then he laughed softly.
"You always were smarter than Julian said."
My skin prickled.
"Where is he?"
"I don't know."
"I don't believe you."
"That makes two of us. I never believed the quiet-wife act."
The call disconnected.
Daniel's phone rang instantly.
He listened, then looked at Dad.
"Cole's town car just left Manhattan."
"Direction?"
"North."
An agent checked the traffic feed.
"He's heading toward us."
Maya looked out the window.
"Why would a seventy-two-year-old chairman drive toward a house full of federal agents?"
May you like
A loud crack exploded from outside.
The window shattered.
