Chapter 18 - The Last Locked Door
Elliot dragged Lena down the unlit path toward the boathouse. She could smell rain on the river and hear police radios somewhere behind them.
“You should've minded your own business,” he muttered.
“She was six,” Lena said. “That was my business.”
Inside, he pushed her beside a wooden workbench and demanded the locker key.
“Police have the records,” she answered. “There's nothing left to steal.”
“There's always a copy. Claire made copies of everything.”
Headlights swept through the windows. Graham stepped out of a police vehicle, but Mara kept the officers back while a negotiator called to Elliot from the doorway.
“Let Lena come out,” Graham shouted. “You want someone to blame? I'm right here.”
Elliot laughed without humor. “You never had the stomach for decisions. Claire did. That's why she had to go.”
Graham went still.
“You killed her because she found out about the money?”
“She was taking the books to the state attorney. She would've ruined everything.” Elliot struck the workbench with his fist. “I pushed her away. She fell. Victoria wouldn't call anybody until I left.”
Lena saw the negotiator's flashlight blink twice through the window. The officers had heard him.
Elliot turned toward the sound. Lena dropped to the floor behind the heavy workbench as police entered and ordered him to put down what he was holding.
The object hit the boards. Officers took Elliot into custody without anyone being hurt.
Graham ran to Lena. “Are you okay?”
She nodded. “Go to your daughter.”
He looked toward the river, where Claire had spent her last night, and his face broke.
“I should have listened to her.”
“Yes,” Lena said softly. “But Ellie is still here. Listen to her now.”
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At the station, Mara received an update from the crime lab. The blue fiber from Victoria's watch matched the strap recovered from the washer.
Now they had the one thing Victoria could not explain away.
