Chapter 7 - The Marina Where Serena Died)
The old Pierce marina had been closed since Serena's death.
Domenico had not returned once.
The lake house stood dark behind a line of trees.
The dock extended into black water.
At its end, the red warning light still burned.
Domenico parked fifty yards away.
Marcus and two security specialists remained hidden on the access road.
At exactly eight, Conrad Lane arrived.
He exited his car alone.
Domenico waited beside the marina office.
Conrad looked older than he had that morning.
"Are you being followed?"
"If I were, would I know?"
"This isn't a joke."
"Neither is forty two million dollars."
Conrad looked toward the lake.
"So you found Halcyon."
"What was it?"
"A theft mechanism."
Domenico stared.
"You moved money out of my company."
"I helped conceal transfers."
"That's a confession."
"I know."
"Why?"
"At first because your father ordered it."
The answer stunned Domenico.
"My father?"
"Vincent created Halcyon."
"For what?"
"Political payments. Private settlements. Projects he didn't want attached to Pierce Development."
Domenico felt sick.
"My father died eight years ago."
"The account continued."
"Who continued it?"
Conrad looked at him.
"Gareth."
Domenico's jaw tightened.
"You let him?"
"I tried to stop him."
"When?"
"After Serena discovered it."
Domenico stepped closer.
"Tell me everything."
Conrad looked toward the water again.
"Serena found a transfer while reviewing the trust. She thought money intended for Josie's shares was being diverted."
"Was it?"
"Indirectly."
"How much?"
"Seven million connected to the trust. Much more from company projects."
"And Gareth?"
"He had been using Halcyon to cover losses, personal debts, payments to contractors."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because I was already compromised."
Conrad's voice broke slightly.
"I signed documents. I approved transfers. Gareth had copies."
"So Serena threatened to expose both of you."
"She threatened him."
"What happened the night she died?"
Conrad closed his eyes.
"She called me."
Domenico stopped breathing.
"From here?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"She wanted me to bring records."
"Did you?"
"Some."
"You arrived before Gareth."
Conrad nodded.
"We argued."
"About what?"
"Serena wanted to go to federal investigators. I begged her to let me correct the accounts first."
Domenico's hands shook.
"And Gareth?"
"He arrived unexpectedly."
"Because you called him?"
"No."
"Then how did he know?"
Conrad looked terrified.
"He had access to Serena's location."
"How?"
"I don't know."
Domenico remembered Gareth managing the family's security accounts after Serena's death.
His stomach tightened.
"What happened?"
"Gareth demanded the documents."
"Did Serena give them to him?"
"No."
"Then?"
Conrad swallowed.
"She told him she had made copies."
"Where?"
"She wouldn't say."
Domenico stared toward the dark lake.
"Did he kill her?"
Conrad shook his head quickly.
"I didn't see that."
"Did he touch her?"
"I left."
Domenico exploded.
"You left?"
Conrad stepped back.
"Gareth told me you were coming. He said Serena planned to accuse all of us, including you."
"And you believed him?"
"I was afraid."
"My wife died here."
"I know."
"My daughter heard her scream."
Conrad stared.
"Josie was awake?"
Domenico saw genuine shock.
"Yes."
Conrad whispered something.
"What?"
"If Josie saw him..."
"Finish the sentence."
Conrad looked toward the trees.
A light moved.
Then another.
His face changed.
"We need to leave."
A vehicle engine roared beyond the marina.
Marcus's voice came through Domenico's earpiece.
"Unknown SUV approaching fast."
Conrad grabbed Domenico's arm.
"He found us."
"Who?"
Conrad did not answer.
The SUV burst through the access gate.
Domenico pulled Conrad behind the marina building.
The vehicle stopped.
Two men stepped out.
Neither was Gareth.
One shouted, "Lane."
Conrad began shaking.
Domenico whispered, "Who are they?"
"Collectors."
"For Gareth?"
"No."
That answer changed everything.
"No?"
Conrad shook his head.
"Gareth owes them too."
One of the men walked toward the dock.
"Conrad, we only want the drive."
Domenico looked at him.
"What drive?"
Conrad reached beneath his jacket.
He removed a small metal data drive.
"Serena's records."
Domenico stared.
"You had them for eighteen months?"
"I was trying to stay alive."
The men moved closer.
Marcus and the security team emerged behind them.
"Stop."
Within seconds, the confrontation ended.
The intruders fled when they realized the marina was covered.
One vehicle struck the gate while escaping.
Marcus called police.
Domenico took the drive from Conrad.
"What's on this?"
"Enough to destroy Gareth."
"Then why hasn't he destroyed you?"
Conrad looked at him with exhausted eyes.
"Because Gareth isn't the person Serena was most afraid of."
Domenico felt the night turn colder.
"Who was?"
Conrad whispered, "Your father left Halcyon to someone."
"My father is dead."
"I know."
"Then who?"
Before Conrad could answer, a gunshot cracked across the lake.
Glass shattered.
Conrad dropped.
Domenico dragged him behind the concrete wall.
Marcus shouted into his radio.
Another shot struck the dock.
The red light exploded.
May you like
Darkness covered the marina.
And somewhere across the water, an engine disappeared into the night.
