Chapter 11 - THE NIGHT THE TRUST WAS BROKEN|
"CHARLES WHITMORE WAS THOMAS REED'S BUSINESS PARTNER."
Luca stared at the telephone.
For years, Whitmore had insisted that Thomas was an opportunist who had exploited Sofia's youth.
He had described the missing accountant as dishonest.
Unreliable.
Dangerous.
And now investigators had uncovered documents suggesting the two men had worked together.
"Why would Whitmore hide that?" Luca asked.
Detective Mercer answered carefully.
"That is one of the questions we intend to ask him."
"Have you found him?"
"Not yet."
Luca looked toward the family photograph above his desk.
His father stood proudly at the center.
Sofia smiled beside him.
Eleanor sat in a cream-colored dress.
And a younger Charles Whitmore stood slightly behind Luca's shoulder.
He had been there all along.
Luca ended the call.
For several seconds, he couldn't move.
Then he took the photograph from the wall.
He looked at Whitmore's smiling face.
And placed the frame facedown.
Across the mansion, Clara was sitting at the kitchen table with Ben.
His doctors had approved a short visit away from the hospital before his planned surgery.
He wore a navy sweatshirt and insisted on making himself a sandwich.
Clara watched him carefully.
"You shouldn't be standing so long."
Ben rolled his eyes.
"I'm spreading mustard, not climbing Mount Everest."
She smiled faintly.
He looked at her.
"You've been doing that all day."
"What?"
"Looking at me like I'm about to vanish."
Clara lowered her eyes.
"I'm just worried."
Ben sat across from her.
"Because of the surgery?"
"Because of everything."
He reached for her hand.
"Clara."
She looked up.
"I've had this condition for years."
"I know."
"And you've been carrying the whole world on your shoulders for years."
She tried to smile.
"Somebody has to."
"No."
His expression became serious.
"Somebody has to help you put it down."
Clara's eyes filled.
Ben gently squeezed her fingers.
"You found your birth mother."
She nodded.
"That's supposed to be something good."
"It is."
"Then don't let these awful people steal every good part of it."
Clara wiped her cheeks.
"I don't know how."
Ben shrugged.
"Start by eating your sandwich."
She laughed.
He pushed half of his toward her.
"Doctor's orders."
For a brief moment, the world felt normal.
Then the kitchen door opened.
Vanessa stood in the doorway.
She wore black trousers and a plain white sweater.
Her makeup was gone.
Without the diamonds and elaborate hair, she looked younger.
And far less certain of herself.
Clara immediately stood.
"What are you doing here?"
Vanessa looked toward Ben.
"I need to speak to you."
Ben moved beside his sister.
"Who are you?"
Clara's voice became cold.
"Vanessa Bellini."
Ben's expression changed.
"Oh."
He looked her up and down.
"You're the woman who thought flowers were more important than my sister's wrist."
Vanessa looked ashamed.
"Yes."
Ben folded his arms.
"Then you can say whatever you've got to say in front of me."
Vanessa took a breath.
"I came to apologize."
Clara stared at her.
"For what part?"
Vanessa lowered her eyes.
"All of it."
Clara said nothing.
Vanessa continued.
"I treated you terribly."
"Yes."
"I was jealous."
Clara gave a disbelieving laugh.
"Of what?"
Vanessa looked toward the grand hallway.
"Of the way Eleanor trusted you."
Clara frowned.
"That doesn't make sense."
"I know."
Vanessa's voice trembled.
"She never liked me."
Clara shook her head.
"You hurt her."
"I know that now."
"You knew it then."
Vanessa looked down.
Clara folded her arms.
"Why are you really here?"
Vanessa reached into her handbag.
Ben immediately stepped closer.
"Careful."
Vanessa stopped and raised her empty hand.
"It's only an envelope."
Clara watched as she removed a thick packet of papers.
"I found these in my father's apartment."
She placed them on the table.
Clara glanced at the first page.
It was a copy of a financial agreement.
The heading included Thomas Reed's name.
Vanessa swallowed.
"My father has been moving money for Charles Whitmore for years."
Clara stared at her.
"How do you know?"
"I heard them arguing."
"When?"
"Two nights before the wedding."
Vanessa looked frightened.
"Whitmore told my father that if Luca signed the marriage documents, the final transfer could happen without attracting attention."
Ben frowned.
"Transfer of what?"
"Control of a holding company."
Clara shook her head.
"I don't understand."
Vanessa looked directly at her.
"They were using my marriage to Luca to complete a financial arrangement."
Clara felt cold.
"Did you know?"
Vanessa hesitated.
"Not at first."
Clara's expression hardened.
"When did you find out?"
Vanessa began crying.
"About two months ago."
Clara stepped backward.
"Two months?"
Vanessa nodded.
"You knew someone was trying to steal from this family, and you stayed quiet?"
"I thought if I married Luca, I could get my father away from Whitmore."
Ben stared at her.
"That's the worst plan I've ever heard."
Vanessa looked at the floor.
"You're right."
Clara studied her.
"Did you tamper with the flowers?"
Vanessa shook her head.
"No."
"Did you know they were unsafe?"
Her eyes filled.
"I noticed the wiring was strange."
Clara felt anger rise.
"And you still forced me to handle them?"
Vanessa began sobbing.
"I didn't think anyone would get hurt."
Clara's voice became sharp.
"You didn't care enough to find out."
Vanessa covered her face.
For once, Clara felt no urge to comfort her.
An apology couldn't erase months of cruelty.
And tears didn't automatically make someone trustworthy.
"Why did you bring these papers to me?" Clara asked.
Vanessa lowered her hands.
"Because my father told me something last night."
"What?"
Vanessa looked toward Ben.
"He said that if Whitmore got desperate, he'd go after the people Luca couldn't afford to lose."
Ben's expression changed.
Clara felt her chest tighten.
"Why didn't you take this to the police?"
"I tried."
Vanessa looked ashamed.
"I was afraid they'd arrest me."
Clara nodded slowly.
"And now?"
Vanessa lifted her chin.
"Now I don't care."
She pushed the papers forward.
"Please give them to Detective Mercer."
Clara stared at her for a moment.
Then she reached for her phone.
"I'm calling Luca."
Vanessa nodded.
"I understand."
Ten minutes later, Luca arrived with Marco.
The moment he saw Vanessa, his expression darkened.
"What are you doing here?"
She stood.
"Trying to tell the truth."
Luca looked at the papers.
Then at Clara.
"Did she threaten you?"
Clara shook her head.
"No."
Vanessa's eyes filled.
"Luca, I'm sorry."
He said nothing.
"I know you hate me."
"I don't hate you."
She looked hopeful.
Then he continued.
"I don't trust you."
Her hope vanished.
Luca glanced toward the packet.
"If these documents are real, the detective needs them."
Vanessa nodded.
"I'll cooperate."
Luca looked toward Marco.
"Arrange for Detective Mercer to speak with her."
Vanessa turned toward the door.
Then she stopped.
"There's one more thing."
Luca looked at her.
"What?"
"Whitmore kept talking about a missing recording."
Clara felt a chill.
"The recording from the garden?"
Vanessa nodded.
"He said the entire plan could fall apart if anyone heard the last part."
Luca frowned.
"We've heard the recording."
Vanessa shook her head.
"Not all of it."
Everyone stared at her.
She swallowed.
"Whitmore said Thomas recorded a confession."
Luca stepped closer.
"Whose confession?"
Vanessa looked toward the family photograph on the wall.
"Your father's."
The room became silent.
Then she whispered something even worse.
"The recording says Thomas Reed didn't disappear because he was murdered."
Clara stopped breathing.
"What?"
Vanessa's voice trembled.
"It says he disappeared because he was forced to choose."
"Choose what?"
May you like
Vanessa looked directly at her.
"HIS OWN LIFE OR HIS DAUGHTER'S."
