Chapter 13 - The Fourth Person
We drove back with a patrol car ahead of us.
Claire was safe. Robert wasn't.
Evelyn sat in the living room surrounded by police.
"Where is he?" Daniel asked.
She stared at him. "You think I know?"
Ortiz stepped in. "Marcus named the fourth person."
Everyone turned.
"Victor Lane."
Claire frowned. "Uncle Victor?"
He wasn't really their uncle. Victor had been Robert's business partner for thirty years and served as chief operating officer of Bennett Holdings.
He was also the man who had introduced Robert to Marcus.
"Victor is in Chicago," Evelyn said.
Ortiz shook her head. "His phone is. He isn't."
"Wait," I said. "The voice on my recording. Are we sure it's Marcus?"
Daniel looked at me.
We replayed it.
The voice was low, slightly distorted by the study door.
Claire covered her mouth.
"That's Victor."
Evelyn closed her eyes.
Robert had believed his wife was having an affair with Marcus.
But Marcus had been the money man.
Victor was the man she planned to leave with.
Ortiz stared at Evelyn. "How long?"
"This isn't your business."
"It became my business when people started getting hurt."
Evelyn whispered, "Seven years."
Daniel looked disgusted. "And Dad?"
"Your father had his own sins."
"That doesn't answer me."
She stood suddenly. "I was tired of being useful to men who thought they owned me. Robert needed my family name. Marcus needed my contacts. Victor..."
Her voice softened.
"Victor saw me."
I almost laughed.
"And the stolen millions helped him see you better?"
She glared at me.
A police radio crackled.
Robert's car had been found near an abandoned packaging warehouse owned by Bennett Holdings.
Ortiz ordered units there.
Then Evelyn grabbed my wrist.
"If Victor has Robert, he isn't trying to kill him."
"How do you know?"
Her fingers tightened.
"Because Robert is the only person who knows where the original documents are."
"What original documents?"
May you like
She looked at Daniel.
"The ones that can prove Bennett Holdings was never legally his company."
