Chapter 13 - The Recording
Bianca hit the floor.
Elena screamed.
Adrian lunged toward her.
Then Bianca moved.
“I’m okay!”
The bullet had struck the wall behind her.
Reyes fired once.
Catherine’s gun flew from her hand.
She screamed and collapsed, clutching her wounded shoulder.
Officers rushed forward.
Daniel dropped his gun.
“Don’t shoot!”
He raised both hands.
Within seconds, both were restrained.
Elena crawled toward Bianca.
“You’re hit?”
“No.”
Bianca checked herself.
“No.”
Elena grabbed her face.
“You absolute idiot.”
Bianca laughed shakily.
“You sound like my mother.”
Both women looked toward Catherine.
Elena corrected herself.
“Bad choice of words.”
Despite everything, Bianca almost smiled.
Reyes approached Daniel.
“Backpack.”
An officer opened it.
Inside were passports.
Cash.
A laptop.
And an old digital recorder sealed in plastic.
Bianca stood slowly.
“That’s it?”
Daniel nodded.
Reyes took it.
“You understand this is evidence.”
Bianca stared at her.
“I need to hear it.”
“Not yet.”
“Please.”
Reyes looked at her.
Then at Catherine.
Catherine had stopped speaking.
She stared at the recorder like it was a bomb.
That was enough.
Reyes connected headphones to the device.
She listened first.
Her face changed.
“What?” Bianca asked.
Reyes removed the headphones.
“There are several files.”
“Rebecca?”
“Yes.”
Bianca’s knees weakened.
Reyes hesitated.
Then held out the headphones.
“You hear it once.”
Bianca took them.
Elena stood beside her.
The recording crackled.
Then a woman’s voice.
Young.
Nervous.
Rebecca.
“If you’re hearing this, Charles knows.”
Bianca closed her eyes.
Rebecca continued.
“I have copies proving he forged ownership transfers and moved company funds. Catherine knows more than she admits.”
Bianca’s grip tightened around the headphones.
Another voice appeared.
Catherine.
Recorded secretly.
“You don’t understand Charles.”
Rebecca replied, “I understand him perfectly.”
“He’ll destroy all of us.”
“Then help me stop him.”
“You think police will protect you?”
“I think truth matters.”
Catherine laughed.
“You’re going to get yourself killed.”
The recording changed.
A later file.
Rebecca was inside a car.
Rain hammered the windshield.
She was breathing fast.
A phone call.
“Laura?”
Laura’s voice:
“I’m here.”
“She’s following me.”
“Who?”
“Catherine.”
“Call police.”
“I’m trying.”
A horn sounded.
May you like
Rebecca cursed.
Then Catherine’s voice
