Chapter 10 - The Recording Elena Left Behind
Dominic stared at Claire.
“What did you say?”
Rain drummed against the restaurant's roof.
Claire held the recorder between them.
“Elena knew Nathan was planning something.”
Dominic's voice hardened.
“You expect me to believe my wife knew she was about to be murdered and did nothing?”
“She tried to stop him.”
“How?”
“She collected evidence.”
“I found her evidence.”
“Not all of it.”
Claire glanced toward the broken windows.
“She knew the forged ownership agreements would ruin Nathan.”
“Then why didn't she tell me?”
“Because Nathan convinced her you had authorized the transfers.”
Dominic felt the old anger rising.
“That doesn't make sense.”
Claire's eyes narrowed.
“Doesn't it?”
She took a breath.
“Nathan controlled your accounts, your security, your attorneys, and most of your communications.”
“He told people what you wanted.”
“And they believed him.”
Dominic said nothing.
“After Elena questioned him, he showed her forged documents with your signature.”
“She thought you were involved.”
Dominic remembered Elena's final weeks.
The arguments that seemed to come from nowhere.
The way she watched him when he returned from meetings.
The night she asked whether there was anything he had done that she should know about.
He had thought she was worried about the ordinary dangers of his business.
He had told her everything was under control.
Now the memory sickened him.
“Play it,” he said.
Claire pressed the recorder's button.
Static filled the room.
Then Elena's voice emerged.
“Nathan, this has gone far enough.”
Dominic's knees nearly gave way.
Seven years.
He had not heard Elena speak in seven years.
He gripped the edge of a nearby table.
Nathan's voice followed.
“You're misunderstanding the arrangement.”
“No, I'm not.”
“Elena, you're putting Dominic in a difficult position.”
“Stop using my husband as an excuse.”
A chair scraped.
Elena continued.
“I've seen the accounts.”
“I've seen the signatures.”
“And I know Dominic didn't authorize those transfers.”
Nathan sounded irritated.
“Then perhaps you should discuss it with him.”
“I intend to.”
Silence.
Then Nathan said something Dominic would remember for the rest of his life.
“Some things can't be undone, Elena.”
“Then I'll make sure everyone knows who did them.”
Another scrape.
A door opening.
And Elena's final words on the recording.
“If anything happens to me, Rebecca has everything.”
The recording stopped.
Dominic could barely breathe.
“Where did you get this?”
Claire looked ashamed.
“From my father.”
“How did he get it?”
“Nathan gave it to him.”
“Why would Nathan keep something that incriminating?”
“Insurance.”
“Against whom?”
“My father.”
Dominic studied her.
“That's why you brought it.”
Claire nodded.
“Because my father is no longer willing to protect Nathan.”
“And why not?”
Claire's expression changed.
“Because Nathan has started stealing from him too.”
Dominic felt a bitter recognition.
The partnership had survived as long as both men benefited.
Now it was collapsing under the same greed that created it.
“Where is Warren Bennett?”
Claire shook her head.
“I don't know.”
“Claire.”
“I swear.”
Dominic stepped back.
“Tell Hayes everything.”
Claire nodded.
“I will.”
“About Rebecca.”
“Yes.”
“About Mia.”
Claire closed her eyes.
“Yes.”
“And Harper.”
Her face crumpled.
“I never meant for Harper to get hurt.”
Dominic answered immediately.
“But you knew she would be frightened.”
Claire began crying.
He felt no satisfaction.
Whatever Claire had believed about love, power, or loyalty, she had made choices.
And a mother and child had suffered because of them.
Through the broken window, Dominic saw the headlights of an approaching vehicle.
His phone vibrated.
A message from Detective Hayes.
Claire's father has been located.
Do not leave the building.
Dominic read the message.
Then looked at Claire.
“Your father is with the police.”
Her eyes widened.
“No.”
“Why?”
Claire stepped backward.
“Because he's not supposed to be.”
“Who isn't supposed to be?”
She looked toward the door.
“Nathan told me he would handle him.”
Dominic called Hayes.
No answer.
He called again.
A distant engine roared outside.
Claire suddenly grabbed his arm.
“Dominic, we have to get out.”
He pulled away.
“Why?”
She pointed toward the lake.
A black SUV was turning off the access road, heading directly toward the restaurant.
Claire's face turned white.
“That's Nathan's car.”
Dominic looked at the windows.
Then at the approaching headlights.
Claire whispered, “He knows.”
Dominic reached for his phone.
“Detective Hayes, Nathan is here.”
Before he could say another word, the restaurant's front window shattered.
Dominic pulled Claire behind a concrete pillar.
Outside, sirens erupted.
The SUV swerved violently, struck a stone barrier, and stopped.
Two figures emerged.
One ran toward the trees.
The other fell beside the vehicle.
Police officers shouted commands.
Dominic stayed behind cover.
Seconds later, Detective Hayes entered with two officers.
“Everyone all right?”
Dominic nodded.
Claire was shaking.
Hayes looked toward the recorder in Dominic's hand.
“Is that what she brought?”
“Yes.”
“Give it to the evidence technician.”
Dominic complied.
“Where's Nathan?”
Hayes hesitated.
“He wasn't in the vehicle.”
“Who was?”
“One of his drivers.”
“And the other man?”
“We're identifying him.”
Claire suddenly spoke.
“Dominic.”
He turned.
“There's something I didn't tell you.”
He closed his eyes.
“Of course there is.”
Claire's voice broke.
“Rebecca isn't the only prisoner at Briarwood.”
Dominic stared.
“Who else is there?”
Claire looked at Hayes.
“A boy.”
Dominic's chest tightened.
“Rebecca's son?”
Claire nodded.
“He's seven.”
“What is his name?”
Claire began sobbing.
“His name is Samuel.”
Dominic looked toward the night beyond the broken window.
A seven-year-old boy.
A woman who had disappeared seven years ago.
And a man who had spent nearly two decades calling himself Dominic's brother.
“Is Nathan the boy's father?”
Claire wiped her face.
“I don't know.”
“Then who is?”
Claire's next words were barely audible.
“Rebecca says Nathan isn't.”
Dominic went still.
“Then whose child is he?”
Claire looked at him with horror.
“She says Nathan wants everyone to believe the boy is his.”
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“Why?”
“Because the truth would destroy him.”
