Chapter 12 - The Frame
Victor's threat bought him nothing.
Michael called an emergency board meeting for eleven.
Diane called from county jail at eleven-oh-five.
He almost refused the call.
I said, "Answer it."
Her voice came through the speaker, smooth as ever.
"Michael, you need to stop this before people get hurt."
He stared at the phone. "You threw my daughter off a balcony."
A pause.
"I panicked."
"You lifted a baby over a railing and let go."
"I was trying to protect you."
I stood up so fast my chair scraped the floor.
"From what? The truth?"
Diane ignored me. "Victor is dangerous. You have no idea what he'll release."
Michael's voice became frighteningly calm. "Then help us catch him."
"I want a deal."
"For attempted murder?"
"I want the prosecutor to hear the full story before deciding what I am."
I leaned toward the phone. "I watched my daughter fall. I already know what you are."
Then she said, "Victor has a recording that makes it sound like you planned Robert's death."
My skin went cold.
Robert died of a heart attack eight years ago.
"I never even met Robert," I said. Michael and I had started dating after his father died.
"That won't matter once the clip is edited."
Michael looked at me, then at the investigators.
"Where is Victor?"
"I don't know."
"Wrong answer."
"I know where he'll go."
"Where?"
Diane lowered her voice.
"Bennett Textile Mill Number Three. Your grandfather closed it in 2004. Victor used the basement records room for cash deals no one was supposed to know about."
Martinez wrote down the address.
Before Michael hung up, Diane said, "One more thing."
He didn't respond.
"If Victor knows you recovered Andrew's affidavit, he won't run."
"What will he do?"
"He'll come for the only witness who can explain the old payments."
Michael frowned. "Jason Sloan?"
Diane whispered, "No."
I saw the answer on her face before she said it.
May you like
"Mara Reed."
At that exact moment, Mara's chair behind us was empty.
