Chapter 11 - THE HOUSE WHERE THE TRUTH WAS BURIED|
The Connecticut estate stood at the end of a long private road surrounded by maple trees.
Its white columns and wide stone steps reminded me of photographs from an old American history book.
But there was nothing welcoming about the place that afternoon.
Gray clouds covered the sky.
Wind moved through the trees.
And every window reflected the pale light like a dark, watchful eye.
Gabriel stood beside me near the entrance.
Detective Brooks had arranged officers around the property.
Our meeting was being monitored.
No one expected me to face Isabella alone.
Even so, I could feel my pulse hammering in my throat.
"You don't have to do this," Gabriel said.
I looked at the front door.
"She asked for me."
"That doesn't mean you owe her anything."
"I know."
I thought about Vincent.
About Daniel.
About eighteen years of stolen family memories.
"If she knows something that can help, I want to hear it."
Gabriel studied me for a moment.
Then nodded.
"We go in together."
The front door opened before we reached it.
Isabella stood inside.
She wasn't wearing an expensive gown.
Her hair was pulled back.
Her face was pale.
And there were dark circles beneath her eyes.
For the first time, she looked like an ordinary frightened woman.
But when she saw me, her expression hardened.
"Claire."
"Isabella."
She looked toward Gabriel.
"I said she should come alone."
Gabriel stepped forward.
"That was never going to happen."
Isabella glanced down the driveway.
"Police?"
"Nearby," he answered.
She gave a bitter laugh.
"Of course."
I studied her face.
There was a small bruise near her cheekbone.
"Are you hurt?" I asked.
She looked startled.
"What?"
"Your face."
Her hand moved instinctively toward the bruise.
Then she dropped it.
"It's nothing."
I didn't argue.
Gabriel looked around the entrance hall.
"Where's Richard?"
Isabella's expression changed.
"I don't know."
"Don't lie to me."
"I'm not lying."
She looked toward the stairs.
"He left this morning."
Detective Brooks's voice came quietly through Gabriel's earpiece.
"Ask whether he's armed."
Gabriel did.
Isabella shook her head.
"I don't know."
She pressed her hands together.
"Gabriel, we don't have much time."
"Then start talking."
Isabella looked at me.
"Your mother ruined everything."
I felt my chest tighten.
"Excuse me?"
"Margaret Bennett."
Her voice grew bitter.
"She should have minded her own business eighteen years ago."
Gabriel stepped closer.
"Leave her mother out of this."
Isabella laughed.
"Why?"
She looked directly at me.
"Your mother was the only nurse who kept asking questions."
I stared.
"You knew about her?"
"Richard told me."
"When?"
"Years ago."
She looked away.
"He said she nearly destroyed the arrangement."
I felt sick.
"My mother was trying to help Daniel."
Isabella's expression hardened.
"Daniel was supposed to stay at Willowbrook."
"Why?"
"Because Richard said he was dangerous."
Gabriel spoke quietly.
"And you believed him?"
"At first."
"Then what?"
She looked toward the windows.
"Then I stopped caring."
The admission startled me.
She continued.
"I knew Daniel hadn't done anything wrong."
Gabriel stood very still.
"You knew?"
Isabella nodded.
"And you left him there?"
Her eyes filled.
"I didn't know how to stop it."
I remembered the engagement dinner.
The way she'd mocked Vincent's shaking hands.
The way she'd threatened my mother.
Anger rose in my chest.
"You could have told Gabriel."
She looked at me sharply.
"You have no idea what Richard would have done."
"Then tell us."
Isabella's voice broke.
"He killed my mother."
The words echoed through the hall.
Gabriel looked toward Detective Brooks's hidden microphone.
Then back at Isabella.
"What proof do you have?"
Isabella walked toward an old wooden chest.
She unlocked it.
Inside were photographs, letters, and a battered leather diary.
"My mother kept records."
Gabriel stepped closer.
"Records of what?"
"Richard's accounts."
She lifted the diary.
"She discovered he was stealing from your family."
"Then why didn't she report him?"
"She tried."
Isabella's eyes filled.
"She went to Eleanor."
Gabriel looked at the diary.
"I know."
Isabella shook her head.
"You don't know everything."
She opened to a marked page.
"My mother had been working for Richard for six years."
She swallowed.
"He threatened to accuse her of the theft if she exposed him."
Gabriel's expression darkened.
"So she went to my mother for help."
"Yes."
"And?"
Isabella looked toward the floor.
"Eleanor promised to protect us."
She turned another page.
"But Richard found out."
I felt the air grow colder.
"What happened?"
Isabella's voice became small.
"He arranged Daniel's accident."
Gabriel didn't move.
She continued.
"He wanted Eleanor to believe her family was vulnerable."
Daniel had been injured.
Vincent had been deceived.
Gabriel had been left grieving.
And Eleanor had died before she could reveal the truth.
"What happened to Eleanor?" Gabriel asked.
Isabella gripped the diary.
"She confronted Richard."
"When?"
"The night she died."
Gabriel's jaw tightened.
"What did he do?"
Isabella began crying.
"He followed her into the parking garage."
"Then?"
"I don't know everything."
"Isabella."
She looked up.
"I swear."
Gabriel's voice became dangerous.
"Don't tell me what you think I want to hear."
She stepped backward.
"I saw him come home that night."
"Richard?"
"Yes."
"What did he say?"
Her eyes filled.
"He said the problem had been handled."
The room fell silent.
I thought about Eleanor's cassette tape.
Her frightened voice.
The door opening.
The man's warning.
Then I looked at Isabella.
"Where were you?"
She frowned.
"What?"
"That night."
"At home."
"With your mother?"
She shook her head.
"My mother was missing."
I felt a chill.
"Missing?"
"Richard told me she'd left town."
"Was that true?"
Isabella began sobbing.
"No."
She pressed a hand against her mouth.
"Three months later, the police told me she'd died in an accident."
Gabriel looked at her.
"And Richard convinced you my family was responsible."
She nodded.
"He said Eleanor had betrayed her."
I stared at the diary.
"Did you ever read it?"
Isabella hesitated.
"Not until I was twenty-five."
"And what did you discover?"
Her expression became ashamed.
"That Richard had lied."
Gabriel closed his eyes.
"Then why did you continue helping him?"
Isabella looked directly at him.
"Because he owned everything."
"My education."
"My apartment."
"My career."
She swallowed.
"And because I wanted your money."
The honesty startled everyone.
She began crying again.
"I told myself I deserved it."
Gabriel stared at her.
"Deserved what?"
"Compensation."
"For what happened to my mother."
She looked down.
"But after a while, it wasn't about her anymore."
I thought about the emerald gown.
The diamond bracelet.
The expensive wedding plans.
"You liked the life he promised you," I said.
Isabella nodded.
"Yes."
Gabriel's expression became cold.
"And you were willing to destroy my father to keep it."
She covered her face.
"I know."
"No."
His voice sharpened.
"You don't know."
He stepped closer.
"My father is eighty-one years old."
Isabella began trembling.
"He trusted you."
"I know."
"You isolated him."
She nodded.
"You lied about his medical condition."
Another nod.
"And you tried to take control of my brother's inheritance."
Isabella whispered, "Yes."
Gabriel looked away.
For a moment, I thought he might shout.
Instead, he spoke very quietly.
"I would have given you a beautiful life."
Isabella lifted her head.
"I know."
"But you wanted something that wasn't yours."
Tears slid down her cheeks.
"I'm sorry."
Gabriel shook his head.
"You're sorry because the truth came out."
He looked toward me.
"Claire, we're leaving."
But Isabella suddenly grabbed my wrist.
"Wait."
I pulled back.
She reached into her pocket.
"There's something you need."
She handed me a small flash drive.
"Everything Richard did."
Gabriel stared.
"Where did you get that?"
"From my mother's files."
She swallowed.
"I made copies."
I looked at the device.
"Why give it to me?"
Isabella's expression crumpled.
"Because Gabriel won't believe anything I say anymore."
She looked down.
"And he shouldn't."
Detective Brooks entered through the front door.
"Isabella Varela."
Isabella turned.
The detective approached calmly.
"We need you to come with us."
Isabella didn't resist.
As an officer approached, she looked toward Gabriel.
"I never meant for your father to get hurt."
Gabriel's expression didn't change.
"But you watched it happen."
Isabella lowered her head.
The officer escorted her toward the doorway.
Then she stopped.
"Gabriel."
He looked at her.
"Richard is planning something tonight."
Detective Brooks stepped forward.
"What?"
Isabella swallowed.
"He knows Daniel is home."
"And?"
She looked toward the windows.
"He says the family took everything from him."
Her voice broke.
"And tonight, he's going to take everything back."
Gabriel stared.
"Where is he?"
Isabella began trembling.
"At the mansion."
My heart stopped.
Vincent had been discharged earlier that afternoon.
Daniel was staying with him.
And Gabriel's family was waiting at home.
May you like
Isabella whispered the words that made us all run toward the door.
"Richard knows they're alone."
