Chapter 10 - The Last Lie Vincent Caruso Told|
Dominic refused to meet Vincent alone.
That surprised the older man.
For years, Vincent had been able to summon private conversations whenever he wanted.
He'd sat beside Dominic at family dinners.
Advised him during business disputes.
And called him son whenever it suited him.
But now Dominic arrived at the interview room with his attorney and Detective Ramirez.
The conversation would be recorded.
Vincent sat on the opposite side of the table.
His expensive suit looked wrinkled.
His face was pale.
“Dominic.”
The younger man remained standing.
“Vincent.”
The older man looked toward the detective.
“Is all this necessary?”
“Yes,” Dominic answered.
Vincent sighed.
“You've changed.”
Dominic pulled out a chair.
“I learned a few things.”
For several seconds, they stared at each other.
Then Vincent spoke.
“I can give you Martin Vale.”
Dominic didn't answer.
“He's hiding under the name Michael Voss. He has access to money and forged documents. He's planning to leave the country.”
“Tell the investigators.”
Vincent looked surprised.
“Don't you want to hear my side?”
Dominic's expression remained cold.
“I've been hearing your side for nine years.”
Vincent swallowed.
“Dominic, I loved Emily.”
The words made Dominic go still.
Then he slowly leaned forward.
“Don't.”
Vincent looked down.
“I never wanted her to die.”
“But you helped conceal what happened.”
The older man's face crumpled.
“I panicked.”
“You lied.”
“I was afraid.”
“You blamed Samuel Bennett.”
Vincent closed his eyes.
“And you watched an innocent man go to prison.”
The silence became painful.
Dominic continued.
“You watched my mother die believing her daughter's death was an accident.”
Vincent flinched.
“You watched my father spend his final years trying to understand what happened.”
His voice trembled.
“And you watched me grieve.”
Vincent began crying.
“I'm sorry.”
Dominic stared at him.
For a moment, the words seemed almost meaningless.
Nine years.
A dead child.
A ruined family.
An innocent man convicted.
A loyal dog abandoned to grief.
And now Vincent was offering an apology.
Dominic took a breath.
“Tell the truth.”
Vincent wiped his eyes.
Then began.
Martin Vale had discovered a way to divert charitable funds through falsified invoices and shipping contracts.
Vincent had helped him.
The arrangement was supposed to be temporary.
Then the stolen amounts grew.
Antonio began asking questions.
Emily photographed them moving documents into the greenhouse.
Martin caught her.
She tried to run.
In the confusion, she fell and struck her head against a stone planting bench.
Vincent said he hadn't intended for her to be injured.
But instead of calling emergency services immediately, Martin demanded they recover the camera and prevent her from speaking to Antonio.
Vincent went along with it.
Dr. Keller arrived.
Emily's condition worsened.
And by the time they decided to seek medical help, it was too late.
Dominic listened without moving.
Vincent continued.
They concealed the greenhouse incident.
Moved Emily's body.
Constructed the story that she'd wandered into the lake.
And blamed Samuel Bennett for leaving the gate unsecured.
Martin arranged the destruction of records.
Vincent testified against Samuel.
Keller signed an inaccurate death certificate.
The lies supported one another.
And over time, they became the official version.
Dominic's hands trembled beneath the table.
Finally, he asked, “Did my father know?”
Vincent lowered his eyes.
“Not at first.”
“When did he find out?”
“Six months later.”
Dominic stared.
“What did he do?”
“He confronted me.”
Vincent's voice broke.
“He said he'd trusted me with his family.”
Dominic swallowed.
“And?”
“He told me to leave.”
“Why didn't he go to the police?”
Vincent looked toward the detective.
“Because I threatened to implicate Dominic in the financial scheme.”
Dominic went still.
“What?”
Vincent nodded miserably.
“I had forged approvals using your business credentials.”
Dominic's expression hardened.
“You were willing to destroy me too.”
Vincent began crying.
“I was desperate.”
Dominic leaned back.
Then laughed once.
A sound without humor.
“You keep using that word.”
Vincent stared.
“Desperate.”
Dominic's eyes filled.
“Samuel Bennett was desperate when they took him to prison.”
He paused.
“My mother was desperate when she waited for news about Emily.”
His voice broke.
“And my sister was desperate when she called my name.”
Vincent covered his face.
Dominic stood.
For a moment, everyone expected him to shout.
But he didn't.
He looked at the detective.
“I'm finished.”
Then he turned toward Vincent.
“You don't get to ask me for forgiveness as the price of telling the truth.”
The older man lowered his head.
Dominic walked toward the door.
But Vincent called after him.
“Dominic!”
He stopped.
Vincent's voice trembled.
“Emily wasn't alone at the end.”
Dominic slowly turned.
Vincent continued.
“Samuel held her hand before Martin forced him away. He kept telling her she was going home.”
Dominic's eyes filled.
Then he whispered, “She should have.”
And walked out.
Two days later, Martin Vale was arrested while attempting to leave Michigan using fraudulent identification.
The last man responsible for concealing Emily's death was finally in custody.
But for Dominic, the most important battle was still ahead.
Samuel Bennett's conviction had to be overturned.
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And Claire was about to discover that justice could change more than her father's future.
It could change her own.
