Chapter 7 - Elena's Family Secret
Elena had never called Arthur "Uncle" in front of me.
Not once.
When I confronted Luca, he told me what my wife had hidden for twelve years.
Arthur Vale was Elena's mother's half brother. Their family had cut him off after a financial scandal in Boston. Elena helped him rebuild his career in New York. When I needed a lawyer who understood complicated family businesses and didn't scare easily, she recommended him.
I had invited the snake into my house because my wife had asked me to.
"Why didn't she tell me?" I asked.
"Because you hated secrets," Luca said.
"So she kept one?"
"People are complicated. Even people we love."
I wanted to hit something.
Instead, I went to the hospital with Quinn.
Arthur was in surgery. A blow to the head, two cracked ribs, blood loss. Somebody had wanted him dead but hadn't finished the job.
Quinn walked beside me through the fluorescent hallway.
"You still think he poisoned the cake?"
"Lily saw the limp."
"She saw a limp, a hat, and a silver object."
"He knew Ethan's allergy."
"So did several people."
I stopped. "You enjoy disagreeing with me?"
"Professionally, yes."
Before I could answer, Sophia called.
Her voice was tight.
"Dominic, Lily remembered something."
"What?"
"The man spoke to somebody in the cold room."
I put the call on speaker.
"Lily, sweetheart, what did he say?"
Her small voice came through.
"He said, 'After the candles.'"
Quinn and I looked at each other.
"Anything else?"
"He said, 'Make sure Dominic sees.'"
That changed everything.
The goal had not only been to hurt Ethan.
The killer wanted me to witness it.
Punishment.
Quinn asked, "Did the man say a name?"
Silence.
Then Lily whispered, "He called the other person Doctor."
My blood went cold.
There had been only one doctor at the party.
Dr. Samuel Harris.
The same man who had tested the cake.
The same man who had told me Ethan would have had seconds to live.
I turned toward Quinn.
"Where is Harris?"
She was already calling dispatch.
We got the answer thirty seconds later.
May you like
Dr. Harris had left the estate seventeen minutes ago.
And Ethan was no longer in the ballroom.
