Chapter 5 - The Second Betrayal
Victor was arrested before sunrise.
I thought it was over.
I was wrong.
At nine that morning, Daniel entered Dominic's study.
“We have a problem.”
Dominic's arm was bandaged.
“What?”
“Victor's attorney filed for emergency release.”
“On what grounds?”
“Insufficient evidence connecting him directly to the bombing.”
I stared.
“He admitted it.”
“Not on recording.”
Daniel placed a tablet down.
“And the financial drive isn't enough to prove murder.”
Dominic cursed.
“What about Audrey?”
“No.”
I said it immediately.
Everyone looked at me.
“She isn't testifying in front of Victor.”
Dominic nodded.
“Agreed.”
Daniel continued.
“There may be another witness.”
“Who?”
He showed us an old security photograph.
A younger Peter Lawson.
My manager.
I stared.
“Peter?”
“He worked for Victor seventeen years ago.”
I stood.
“He never told me.”
“Peter was working the night Sophia was attacked.”
We went to the hospital.
Peter looked exhausted.
When he saw me, he closed his eyes.
“I wondered when you'd figure it out.”
“You knew my father?”
“Yes.”
“Did you know who I was when you hired me?”
“Yes.”
I stepped back.
“Five years.”
“Claire—”
“You lied to me for five years.”
“I protected you.”
“By putting me inside Victor's restaurant?”
“Because it was the safest place.”
Dominic frowned.
“Explain.”
Peter looked toward the door.
“Thomas Mercer came to me before he died. He knew Victor was watching his daughter. Thomas believed the only place Victor wouldn't search aggressively was directly under his own nose.”
I almost laughed.
“That was his plan?”
“It worked.”
“Until Audrey walked in.”
Peter nodded.
Then Dominic asked, “What did you see the night Sophia died?”
Peter's expression changed.
“Victor building the device.”
The room became silent.
“You saw him?”
“I saw enough.”
“Why didn't you testify?”
“Because he had my wife.”
Peter swallowed.
“She disappeared two days later.”
His voice broke slightly.
“I've never seen her again.”
Dominic looked away.
Peter reached for my hand.
“Your father promised Victor would eventually make a mistake.”
“He did.”
“No.”
Peter shook his head.
“His mistake wasn't Audrey remembering.”
“What was it?”
“He kept trophies.”
Dominic turned.
“What trophies?”
“Victor has a private safe inside Aurelia.”
I stared at him.
“Where?”
“Wine cellar. Behind rack nineteen.”
That night, federal investigators opened the safe.
Inside were financial records, burner phones, photographs and components linked to the bombing.
But one item stopped Dominic cold.
Sophia's wedding ring.
Audrey identified it immediately.
She didn't cry.
She simply looked at her father and signed:
Mommy.
Dominic knelt.
For the first time, he signed without my help.
I know.
Audrey touched his cheek.
Then she signed something else.
Dominic looked at me.
“What did she say?”
I smiled.
“You tell me.”
He watched Audrey repeat it.
His eyes filled.
You finally learned my words.
Dominic pulled her into his arms.
And Audrey held on.
But Victor still had one card left to play.
The next morning, Daniel received a message.
A scheduled file had been released automatically after Victor's arrest.
It contained photographs of me.
My apartment.
My restaurant.
My father's grave.
And one final message.
Mercer evidence goes public in 24 hours. Dominic Vale falls with me.
I looked at Dominic.
“What does that mean?”
He answered quietly.
“It means Victor kept records of everything.”
“Your crimes?”
“Yes.”
“Then you're in them.”
“Yes.”
“And if we use his files?”
May you like
Dominic met my eyes.
“I lose everything.”
