Chapter 10 - Four Million Dollars
Arthur wanted to pay.
That truth embarrassed him more than he expected.
Four million dollars was nothing compared with knowing who killed Rebecca.
Clara saw it in his face.
“No.”
“I didn’t say anything.”
“You don’t have to.”
“If she has the original file—”
“She is under investigation for fraud, coercion, and evidence tampering. You reward this, she owns the next demand too.”
Arthur slammed his palm against the desk.
“My wife died with something she needed to tell me.”
“And your son is alive right now.”
The room went quiet.
Arthur looked away.
Maria stood by the window.
“She wants you emotional,” she said.
Arthur almost snapped at her.
Then he realized she was right.
“What would you do?”
Maria turned.
“I would make her think she won.”
Reed smiled slowly.
Arthur looked between them.
“What?”
“Controlled delivery,” Reed said. “Recorded negotiation. Marked funds. We don’t give her four million. We give her access to an account she believes contains four million.”
Clara added, “And we force her to identify the evidence before she gets anything.”
Arthur hated every second of the plan.
He agreed anyway.
They sent Elena a message from Arthur’s phone.
I’LL DO IT. I WANT THE ORIGINAL. YOU PICK THE PLACE.
She answered in two minutes.
Tomorrow. 6 p.m. Old Cumberland marina. Come alone.
Reed read it. “You’re not going alone.”
“She’ll know.”
“She’ll suspect. Different problem.”
That afternoon, Arthur went upstairs to Evan’s room.
His son was building a cardboard model of the solar system with Maria.
“Can I talk to you?” Arthur asked.
Evan’s shoulders tightened.
Arthur sat on the floor instead of making him come closer.
“Elena said things about your mom.”
“I know.”
“Some of those things may have been true.”
Evan looked at him.
“Did she kill Mom?”
The question hit like a punch.
“I don’t know.”
“But you’re going to find out?”
“Yes.”
Evan stared at Saturn in his hands.
“Dad?”
“Yeah?”
“If you find out, don’t leave me to go fix it.”
Arthur swallowed.
“What do you mean?”
“People always leave when they’re fixing things.”
Arthur reached over and took his son’s hand.
“I’m coming back.”
At five fifty the next evening, Arthur walked onto the marina dock wearing a wire.
Fog rolled over the river.
A figure waited beside slip fourteen.
Not Elena.
Lucas Laurent turned around.
He held a black pistol at his side.
“Your wife couldn’t make it,” he said.
May you like
Then he smiled.
“But Rebecca’s file did.”
