Chapter 10 - The Day Gareth Came Back)
Marcus intercepted Gareth before he reached the pool.
Domenico arrived seconds later.
"Stop."
Gareth turned.
He looked almost amused.
"You've turned your own house into a prison."
"You were told not to return."
"My mother owns a guest cottage on this property."
"Not the main grounds."
"Call your lawyers."
"I did."
Domenico moved closer.
"So did the police."
For the first time, Gareth's confidence weakened.
"About what?"
"Halcyon."
Gareth's eyes went flat.
"Conrad."
"He told me enough."
"Conrad would sell his children to save himself."
"Did you steal forty two million dollars?"
Gareth laughed.
"From whom? The company my mother helped build?"
"My father built Pierce Development before he met Helena."
"And then spent twenty years treating us like charity."
Domenico stared.
There it was.
Not greed.
Not completely.
Resentment.
Old and patient.
Gareth looked toward Josie.
"Vincent left everything to you."
"He left millions to Helena."
"Money isn't control."
"So this is about control."
"It's about being treated like I belong."
"You hurt my daughter because you feel excluded?"
"I never hurt Josie."
Eli heard him.
She had been standing several yards away.
"That's a lie."
Gareth turned.
"Eli."
His daughter stepped closer.
"I recorded you."
His expression changed.
Domenico looked at her.
"You what?"
Eli's chin trembled, but she did not retreat.
"I have videos."
Gareth moved toward her.
Marcus blocked him.
"Don't."
Gareth stared at his daughter.
"You're confused."
"No."
"Your mother has filled your head with things."
"This isn't about Mom."
"Give me the phone."
"No."
His voice hardened.
"Eli."
Domenico stepped between them.
"Leave."
Gareth's eyes shifted toward Josie.
Something in his expression made her hide behind a chair.
Domenico saw it.
"I said leave."
Gareth smiled faintly.
"You think you've solved something because Conrad gave you old records."
"I know about Celeste."
The smile disappeared.
Domenico continued.
"I know she was at the cafe. I know Halcyon paid her after Serena died. I know she left for Lisbon with Marissa Cole."
Gareth looked genuinely shocked.
It lasted less than a second.
But Domenico saw it.
"You didn't know about Lisbon," Domenico said.
Gareth said nothing.
"Interesting."
"You have no idea what you're dealing with."
"Then tell me."
"Not here."
"Why?"
Gareth's eyes moved toward the girls.
"Because some things children shouldn't hear."
Eli laughed bitterly.
"You weren't worried about that when you threatened Josie."
Gareth's face darkened.
Domenico took a step toward him.
"What threat?"
Eli looked at Josie.
Josie shook her head.
Eli remained silent.
Gareth smiled again.
"See? Children invent stories."
Domenico wanted to hit him.
Instead he said, "Marcus."
Security moved forward.
Gareth raised his hands.
"I'm leaving."
As he walked past Domenico, he whispered, "Ask Conrad who signed Serena's death certificate."
Domenico turned.
"What?"
Gareth kept walking.
"Ask him."
He left through the side garden.
Domenico immediately called the county medical examiner's office.
Serena's death certificate was ordinary.
Drowning.
Accidental death.
Signed by deputy medical examiner Dr. Leonard Moss.
Domenico searched the name.
Dr. Moss had retired eight months earlier.
He now lived in Maine.
Marcus contacted him.
The former examiner initially refused to speak.
Then Domenico mentioned Serena Pierce.
The man went silent.
"I remember."
"Did you perform her examination?"
"Yes."
"Was identification certain?"
"Her husband identified her."
Domenico felt cold.
He had.
Or believed he had.
Serena had been pulled from dark water after hours submerged.
Her face had been injured by rocks.
Domenico remembered refusing to leave the hospital room.
He remembered her wedding ring.
The scar on her left wrist.
The necklace he had given her.
"What are you asking me, Mr. Pierce?"
"Did anyone pressure you?"
"No."
Domenico heard hesitation.
"Doctor."
The old man sighed.
"A woman came to my office two days later."
"What woman?"
"An attorney."
"Name?"
"Marissa Cole."
Domenico gripped the phone.
"What did she want?"
"Copies of tissue records."
"Why?"
"She said the family planned independent testing."
"Did you give them to her?"
"Yes."
"And?"
"I received a letter later saying everything matched."
"From what laboratory?"
The doctor named one.
Marcus checked.
The laboratory had closed seventeen months earlier.
Its parent company had received investment from Halcyon Holdings.
Domenico stared out at the pool.
For the first time, a thought he had refused even to approach entered his mind.
What if the conspiracy had not begun because Serena died?
What if Serena's death had been part of the conspiracy?
That night, he locked Serena's phone in the main safe.
Eli had already copied the recordings elsewhere.
Neither girl knew that.
At midnight, Gareth called.
Domenico answered.
"You have thirty seconds."
Gareth said, "Celeste isn't Serena."
"I know."
"You don't understand."
"Then explain."
"Serena discovered something about your father that could have destroyed both families."
"What?"
"I don't know the whole thing."
"Liar."
"I'm not lying about this."
"Did you kill my wife?"
Silence.
Then Gareth said, "No."
"Did you see her go into the water?"
Another silence.
"No."
Domenico stopped breathing.
"Then why did you tell police she fell?"
"Because someone told me she did."
"Who?"
A noise sounded on Gareth's end.
He whispered, "I have to go."
"Who told you?"
"Protect Eli."
The line disconnected.
Domenico called back.
No answer.
At 12:21, Gareth's abandoned car was found near Interstate 95.
The driver's door was open.
May you like
There was blood on the seat.
And Gareth Vale was gone.
