Chapter 12 - The Woman in the Champagne Gown)
Arthur returned to the ballroom holding Simone’s recovered recording.
Police officers had begun arriving through the hotel’s private entrance.
Nobody had been arrested yet.
Arthur wanted one thing first.
The truth spoken where the lie had been designed to succeed.
He walked to the center of the room.
Nia held Simone’s hand.
Daniel stood several feet behind them.
Evelyn remained seated.
Malcolm looked toward every exit.
Arthur placed his phone on the banquet table.
“Evelyn.”
She looked up.
“Before the police take statements, I am giving you one opportunity.”
“For what?”
“To tell me what happened to James.”
Her face hardened.
“You’re doing this here?”
“Yes.”
“In front of donors? Employees? Reporters?”
“Yes.”
“You’ll destroy the company.”
Arthur almost smiled.
“No. I finally understand the difference between the company and the people stealing from it.”
Malcolm stood.
“Arthur, counsel should be present.”
Arthur looked at him.
“You should be grateful criminal counsel will soon be available.”
Several guests gasped.
Evelyn rose.
“You have no proof.”
Arthur pressed play.
Her recorded voice filled the ballroom.
Arthur will be gone before midnight.
Evelyn’s face drained of color.
Malcolm closed his eyes.
The recording continued.
And if the girl saw?
Children see many things adults never believe.
Arthur stopped the video.
No one moved.
Nia looked around.
For the first time, adults were watching Evelyn the way they had watched Nia.
With suspicion.
Evelyn took a slow breath.
“You have no context.”
Arthur nodded.
“Give me context.”
“Malcolm and I were discussing your retirement.”
Laughter rippled through the room.
Arthur did not laugh.
“The silver packet?”
“A nutritional additive.”
“The hidden foundation transfers?”
“Research payments.”
“James?”
Silence.
Arthur stepped closer.
“What happened to my son?”
Evelyn looked at the floor.
Malcolm suddenly said, “She didn’t kill him.”
Everyone turned.
Evelyn’s eyes flashed.
“Malcolm.”
He ignored her.
“She didn’t.”
Arthur faced him.
“Then who did?”
Malcolm swallowed.
“James discovered the research accounts. He threatened to expose them.”
“What were you funding?”
Malcolm looked toward Evelyn.
She shook her head once.
Arthur saw.
“So there is something worse than theft.”
Malcolm’s voice lowered.
“Conrad was developing compounds for private clients.”
“What clients?”
“I don’t know.”
“You moved nine million dollars and never asked?”
“I was paid not to ask.”
“By Evelyn?”
Malcolm hesitated.
Evelyn stepped toward him.
“Do not.”
Arthur looked between them.
“Interesting.”
Malcolm continued anyway.
“James found out. Conrad gave Evelyn something he said would make James sick enough to miss a board meeting.”
Arthur’s hands curled into fists.
“What happened?”
“James drank it before leaving the hotel.”
Evelyn shouted, “Stop talking.”
Malcolm’s face twisted.
“You said it wasn’t lethal.”
“It wasn’t supposed to be.”
Arthur stared at Evelyn.
Her composure finally cracked.
“James was going to ruin us.”
“Us?”
“The company. The foundation. Everything.”
“My son was going to expose stolen money.”
“He was going to create a scandal that would destroy thousands of jobs.”
“So you poisoned him?”
“I tried to stop him.”
“And he died.”
“The crash killed him.”
Arthur’s voice shook.
“Because you drugged him.”
Evelyn’s eyes filled with tears.
For eighteen months Arthur had watched those same eyes cry at memorials.
He wondered how much grief had ever been real.
“I loved James.”
Arthur’s expression hardened.
“No.”
He looked at Nia.
“That child loved her mother enough to crawl through tunnels and stand in front of a man she had never met because she believed he was in danger.”
Then he looked back at Evelyn.
“Do not insult my son by calling what you did love.”
Police entered the center of the ballroom.
An officer approached Evelyn.
“Ms. Vale, we need you to come with us.”
Evelyn looked at Arthur.
“Ask Malcolm who sent the first payment.”
Arthur paused.
Malcolm went pale.
Evelyn almost smiled.
“You think I started this?”
“Evelyn,” Malcolm warned.
“You think Conrad invented those accounts?”
Police took her arm.
She looked directly at Arthur.
“James knew the truth before he died.”
Arthur’s breath caught.
“What truth?”
Evelyn’s smile vanished.
“He knew someone wanted control of Whitmore long before I ever married him.”
She was led away.
Arthur turned to Malcolm.
“Who?”
Malcolm said nothing.
An officer moved toward him.
Malcolm suddenly grabbed a champagne glass from the table and smashed it against the edge.
Guests screamed.
Daniel stepped forward.
Malcolm held the broken stem near his own throat.
“Stay back.”
Arthur stared.
“What are you afraid of?”
Malcolm looked at him.
Not like a criminal fearing prison.
Like a man fearing someone else.
“You have no idea who you’re dealing with.”
“Tell me.”
“I can’t.”
“Why?”
May you like
Malcolm’s hand trembled.
“Because if I tell you, prison won’t be the thing that kills me.”
