Chapter 16 - Graham HoltThe first mistake belonged to Graham Holt.
He tried to leave the country.
Airport authorities detained him because investigators had already placed him on a watch list.
He was released temporarily because no charges had yet been filed.
Emma found him outside his office.
“You knew my mother.”
Graham stopped.
He was seventy-one, elegant and perfectly composed.
“I knew many people.”
“You paid Henry Cole.”
Graham smiled faintly.
“An old man's memory is not evidence.”
“What happened on February 11, 2002?”
“I suggest you ask your grandfather.”
Emma hated the word.
“He isn't my grandfather.”
“Biology might disagree.”
“Character doesn't.”
Graham's smile vanished.
Emma continued.
“Who was Donna Pike?”
For the first time, fear entered his eyes.
Only briefly.
But Emma saw it.
“You didn't expect us to identify her.”
Graham stepped closer.
“You have no idea how complicated that night was.”
“Then explain it.”
“I was protecting people.”
“From what?”
“From Julianne.”
Emma's hands tightened.
Graham sighed.
“Your mother believed every problem had a righteous solution. She was wrong.”
“Did you kill her?”
“No.”
“Did Leonard?”
Graham looked directly at her.
“No.”
It sounded convincing.
Too convincing.
Emma studied him.
“Then who caused the crash?”
Graham's face changed.
He turned away.
Before getting into his car, he said:
“Your mother survived because someone disobeyed orders.”
“Whose orders?”
Graham closed the door.
Emma reached for the handle.
The car accelerated away.
But she had heard enough.
May you like
There had been orders.
And someone had issued them.
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