Chapter 11 - ELENA’S VERSION
At midnight, Arthur entered the abandoned Bright Horizons building wearing a wire.
Rebecca and federal agents monitored from two blocks away.
Elena stood in the old conference room.
No makeup.
No jewelry.
No elegant dress.
For the first time since Arthur had known her, she looked tired.
“You came.”
“You threatened my son.”
“I knew that would work.”
Arthur fought the urge to cross the room and grab her.
“You kidnapped him.”
“Daniel kidnapped him.”
“You were part of it.”
Elena didn’t deny it.
Arthur placed Rachel’s journal on the table.
Her expression changed.
“Where did you find that?”
“So you recognize it.”
Elena looked away.
“Rachel was dramatic.”
“Did you kill her?”
Elena’s head snapped back.
“No.”
“Did you poison her?”
“No.”
“Did Daniel?”
Silence.
Arthur stepped closer.
“Elena.”
“I don’t know.”
“That’s a lie.”
She laughed bitterly.
“You want a simple villain because simple villains make grief easier.”
“You forged documents to steal my son’s trust.”
“Yes.”
“You helped kidnap him.”
Elena swallowed.
“Yes.”
“You fabricated DNA evidence.”
“Yes.”
“Then tell me why I should believe anything else.”
Her face tightened.
“Because Daniel scares me too.”
Arthur stared at her.
Elena sat down.
“The Bright Horizons money was his idea.”
“You were the fundraising director.”
“And stupid enough to help him.”
“What happened?”
“We moved donations through temporary entities. Daniel said we were investing the money and returning the gains.”
“You stole charity money.”
“Yes.”
“Rachel discovered it.”
Elena nodded.
“She wanted to report us.”
“So you threatened her.”
“I did.”
Arthur’s hand tightened.
“But I did not kill her.”
“Who changed her medication?”
“I don’t know.”
“Daniel?”
Elena looked toward the window.
“I saw him leaving Rachel’s house twice while you were traveling.”
Arthur felt his blood turn cold.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because he had evidence against me.”
“That answer is getting old.”
“It doesn’t stop being true because you hate it.”
Arthur leaned over the table.
“Why marry me?”
Elena finally looked ashamed.
“At first? Money.”
Arthur almost laughed.
“At least you’re honest about something.”
“Daniel arranged the introduction. He wanted access to Vance Meridian.”
“And later?”
Elena looked at him.
“I started loving the life.”
“The life or me?”
She did not answer.
Arthur nodded.
“That’s what I thought.”
“What about Lucas?” she whispered.
Arthur’s expression hardened.
“Don’t say his name.”
“I care about him.”
“You stole his blood.”
“I never wanted him hurt.”
“You kidnapped him.”
“Daniel said it was the only way to make you sign.”
“And you agreed.”
Elena closed her eyes.
“Yes.”
Arthur straightened.
“Where is Daniel?”
“I don’t know.”
“Try again.”
She reached into her purse slowly.
Arthur tensed.
Elena pulled out a flash drive.
“This can destroy him.”
Arthur stared.
“Bank records?”
“Everything. Accounts. Payments. Rachel’s files. The trust conspiracy.”
“Why give it to me?”
“Because Daniel is planning to kill me.”
Arthur said nothing.
Elena pushed the drive toward him.
“He thinks I kept too much evidence.”
Arthur reached for it.
Then the conference room window shattered.
Elena jerked backward.
Arthur dropped to the floor.
A second shot struck the wall.
Federal agents rushed the building.
Arthur crawled toward Elena.
She was alive.
Terrified.
A bullet had grazed her shoulder.
Arthur pressed his jacket against the wound.
“Who knows you’re here?”
Elena gasped.
“Only Daniel.”
Rebecca burst through the door.
“Shooter fled!”
Arthur held the flash drive.
Elena grabbed his wrist.
“He has another plan.”
“What?”
“If the transfer fails Monday…”
Her eyes widened with panic.
“…he’s going to burn Vance Meridian’s financial servers and blame you.”
May you like
Arthur looked at the clock.
Monday was now less than thirty hours away.
