Chapter 12 - The Witness Who Survived
Thomas Reid survived with a broken wrist and six stitches above his eye.
Daniel came with me.
Thomas looked ten years older than I remembered.
The moment he saw me, he started crying.
"I'm sorry."
I stood at the foot of his bed. "For what?"
"For making you doubt yourself. You were right about Brightwell."
"Who paid you?"
He looked at Daniel.
"His father."
Daniel didn't react.
Maybe there was nothing left to break.
Thomas swallowed. "Robert paid the firm. Evelyn handled the leverage. She had photos of my affair. She said if I didn't bury your report, she'd send them to my wife and the partners."
"Marcus?"
"He moved the money."
"Why attack you now?" I asked.
Thomas glanced toward the door.
"Because I kept a copy."
My pulse kicked.
"Of my report?"
"And the attachments. Bank records, vendor lists, internal emails. I kept them in case they ever came after me."
Daniel leaned forward. "Where?"
Thomas looked at me. "Remember the storage company across from our old office?"
I did.
"Locker 214."
A nurse entered. "Detective Ortiz needs you in the hall."
Outside, Ortiz was on the phone.
"We have a problem."
"What now?"
"Marcus is cooperating. He says the attack on Thomas wasn't ordered by Evelyn."
Daniel's face tightened. "My father?"
"Marcus says no."
"Then who?"
Ortiz looked at us.
"He claims there's a fourth person. Someone who has been taking a cut for years. Someone inside the family who had access to your schedule tonight."
I thought of Claire.
Then hated myself for thinking it.
Daniel did the same math.
"My sister?"
Ortiz shook her head.
"Marcus gave us a name."
Before she could say it, my phone rang.
Claire.
I answered.
She was sobbing.
"Emma, don't come home."
"Why?"
A man's voice spoke behind her.
May you like
"Because Robert Bennett is gone."
Then the call ended.
