Chapter 14 - Martin Sterling
Martin Sterling stepped from the shadows.
Older.
Thinner.
Alive.
The silver cane struck the floor again.
Ethan recoiled.
"That's him," the boy whispered.
Alexander moved between Martin and his son.
"You should be dead."
Nathan cursed. "You said you weren't coming."
Police listened through Alexander's wire.
Martin didn't know.
Or pretended not to.
"Why Julia?" Alexander asked.
Martin's smile faded.
"Your wife was brilliant and inconvenient. She found the old control agreement. She found Nathan. She found the transfers."
"So you killed her."
"I told her to sign a confidentiality settlement and leave the company matters alone."
"She refused."
"Your wife had principles. Expensive habit."
Alexander took one step forward.
Nathan grabbed his arm.
"Don't."
Martin watched with amusement.
"There it is. The Blackwood temper. Your father had it too."
Alexander forced himself still.
"And Vanessa?"
For the first time, Martin looked tired.
"My daughter was supposed to get close to you. That's all."
Maria, listening from the command van, clenched her jaw.
Alexander asked, "Did she know you killed Julia?"
"No."
"Did she know you were alive?"
"Eventually."
"Did you tell her to hurt Ethan?"
Martin's expression sharpened. "I told her to make him manageable. Vanessa has always confused control with cruelty."
Ethan began crying silently.
Alexander's restraint nearly broke.
Then Martin reached inside his coat.
Police moved.
Alexander moved faster.
He knocked Martin's arm aside.
A gun hit the floor.
Nathan kicked it toward the wall.
The boathouse exploded with shouts as officers rushed in.
Martin was forced down and cuffed.
Alexander grabbed Ethan and held him.
It should have felt finished.
It wasn't.
Because Nathan looked at Martin and said, "Tell him the last part."
Alexander turned.
"What last part?"
May you like
Martin smiled from the floor.
"Ask your brother who actually cut Julia's brake line."
