Chapter 10 - THE NAME MARTIN GAVE
Martin met Brooks in a secure interview room.
"I didn't kill Lucia."
"Who did?" Brooks asked.
"Peter Ashford."
Veronica's uncle.
The doctor who signed Lucia's death certificate.
Martin explained.
After the restaurant meeting, Lucia planned to send the red file to Alexander.
Martin panicked and called Charles.
Charles called Peter.
Peter went to Lucia's apartment claiming he wanted to discuss a settlement.
"He gave her an injection."
"What kind?"
"I don't know."
"How do you know?"
"Charles told me she had a heart condition that could be made to look natural."
Alexander felt his hands go cold.
Brooks asked, "Why steal the box?"
He knew Alexander was watching.
"Because there was another recording."
"What recording?"
"Victor made one before he died."
"My father?"
"He confessed part of it."
"Where?"
"Lucia had it."
"You took it?"
"Charles ordered me to."
"Where is it?"
"I gave it to Veronica."
Veronica had possessed a dead man's confession.
That explained her confidence.
Brooks asked why Martin was talking now.
"Because Charles tried to have me arrested for embezzlement this morning."
"Did you embezzle?"
"Yes."
Honest at last.
"How much?"
"Two million."
Everybody around the empire seemed to have a price.
Brooks arrested Martin on financial charges while negotiating cooperation.
Peter Ashford was detained at his clinic.
He denied everything.
His medical license records showed Lucia had never been his patient.
But pharmacy logs from the week of Lucia's death showed a missing vial of potassium chloride.
One vial.
Unaccounted for.
Hannah called from the courthouse.
"The judge froze the merger, the trust transfer, and Ashford's loan enforcement for seventy-two hours."
"Good."
"There's more."
"What?"
"Veronica filed for a protective order."
"Against me?"
"No."
A pause.
"Against Sofia."
"She's claiming Sofia attacked her."
Then Hannah sent the evidence.
A photograph of Veronica's arm.
Deep scratches.
May you like
Time-stamped yesterday.
Sofia had not seen Veronica in three days.
