Chapter 10 - The Lie Inside the Truth
Evelyn wanted to slap Cassandra.
Instead, she stepped closer.
“You are lying.”
“I wish I were.”
“Show me proof.”
Cassandra glanced toward the burning papers.
“You just destroyed it,” Mara said.
“Not all of it.”
She held up the digital drive.
“The files on this drive show that Nathan transferred money to an account in Switzerland. He planned to leave after exposing Northglass.”
“With whom?”
“A woman identified as Rose Vale.”
Evelyn looked down at Lily.
Her middle name was Rose.
“That isn’t a person.”
Cassandra’s mouth tightened.
“It was a code.”
“For what?”
“I never discovered that.”
Mara took another step.
“Give me the drive.”
Cassandra moved closer to the open window.
The ground below was two stories down.
“You think I killed Nathan because I was stealing money. But Nathan was not investigating only me.”
“Who else?” Evelyn asked.
Cassandra looked toward the hallway.
Lenora stood in the doorway.
Neither sister seemed surprised to see the other.
Lenora’s voice was calm.
“Come away from the window.”
Cassandra laughed.
“Now you care?”
“You’re behaving foolishly.”
“I learned from you.”
Evelyn looked between them.
“What happened the night before Nathan died?”
Cassandra’s hand shook around the drive.
“He came to the garage because he believed someone inside the family had sold shipping access codes to smugglers.”
“Northglass?”
“No. Northglass was paying people to keep the ports secure.”
Mara frowned.
“That contradicts Arthur’s records.”
“Arthur misunderstood the transfers.”
“Then explain them.”
Cassandra looked at Lenora.
“Tell her.”
Lenora said nothing.
“Tell her why Northglass was created.”
Still no answer.
Cassandra’s laugh became bitter.
“Of course.”
She turned to Evelyn.
“Northglass was Arthur’s secret company. He used it to pay informants. He suspected the Ashford ships were being used to move weapons.”
Mr. Hale entered behind Lenora.
“That is impossible.”
“You signed the incorporation papers,” Cassandra said.
“I signed hundreds of shell registrations for legitimate tax structures.”
“And you never asked questions.”
Mr. Hale went pale.
Cassandra continued.
“Nathan found one of the hidden routes. He believed I controlled it because my signature appeared on the transfer orders. But Lenora had been using my authorization stamp.”
Everyone looked at Lenora.
She did not deny it.
Evelyn’s voice became quiet.
“Why?”
“To protect the company,” Lenora said.
“From whom?”
“People far more dangerous than this family.”
“Did those people kill Nathan?”
Lenora’s eyes moved toward Lily.
“I don’t know.”
“That is not an answer.”
“It is the only answer I have.”
Cassandra held out the drive.
“Arthur discovered the same route years later. That is why he was poisoned.”
Mara reached for it.
Before their hands touched, the window behind Cassandra shattered.
A sharp crack echoed across the room.
Cassandra screamed and fell.
The drive flew from her hand.
Evelyn dropped over Lily.
“Get down!”
Mara crawled toward Cassandra.
Blood spread across the sleeve of her white dress.
The shot had struck her shoulder.
Mr. Hale pulled the curtains closed.
Lenora stood frozen.
Outside, beyond the gardens, a dark figure moved between the trees.
Mara grabbed the drive.
A second shot struck the wall.
“Everyone out!”
They dragged Cassandra into the corridor.
Security officers raced toward the grounds.
Lenora knelt beside her sister.
“Who knew you had the drive?”
Cassandra’s face was white with pain.
“You did.”
Lenora looked up.
For the first time, genuine fear appeared in her eyes.
“I told no one.”
Cassandra laughed weakly.
“Then Arthur was right.”
“About what?”
“The enemy isn’t outside the family.”
Her eyes moved toward Mr. Hale.
Then Mara.
May you like
Then Evelyn.
“It’s someone who was already in this room.”
