Chapter 18 - Vincent's Secret
Dominic waited until the hostages were safe before confronting Vincent.
They stood beneath the harsh lights of the loading bay while Marcus was taken away.
"What did he mean?"
Vincent looked older than he had an hour earlier.
"Eight years ago, your father told me Marcus died in a boating accident. He ordered me to identify the body."
Dominic's eyes narrowed.
"There was no body."
"No."
Vincent had known Marcus survived.
Not where he went.
Not what he was doing.
But enough.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Your father made me swear. He said Marcus was gone forever and telling you would only reopen the family war."
Dominic looked away.
"You watched me bury an empty coffin."
Vincent's voice broke. "Yes."
Dominic said nothing for a long time.
Then, "You're suspended."
Vincent nodded.
"I understand."
"You will give a full statement. Every detail."
"I will."
Dominic's anger did not disappear.
But neither did twenty years of Vincent standing beside him.
Forgiveness would not be automatic.
Truth came first.
At the hospital, Angela reunited with her son. Nathan held his daughter so tightly she laughed through tears.
Clare and Ellie arrived under police escort.
Ellie ran to Dominic.
He caught her carefully.
"Did you get the bad man?"
"Yes."
"Because I found the click?"
Dominic smiled. "Because you paid attention when every adult stopped paying attention."
Clare wiped her eyes.
Detective Chen approached with an evidence bag.
Inside was Marcus's phone.
"We found scheduled messages," she said. "He had contingency plans in case of arrest."
"For what?"
"To destroy records."
Dominic's expression tightened.
Chen showed him the target list.
The top line read:
May you like
VALE CENTRAL ARCHIVE - FIRE SYSTEM OVERRIDE 11:45 P.M.
It was 11:32.
