Chapter 5 - The Voice Beside the Wreck
Julian denied it immediately.
“That isn’t me.”
Clara replayed the recording.
The voice was younger.
Lower.
But unmistakable.
“Take the case before his daughter sees it.”
Julian shook his head.
“No.”
“You were there.”
“No.”
“You were at my father’s crash.”
“I wasn’t.”
Clara felt something inside her fracture.
“You stood beside me at the hospital and said you had been downtown when they called.”
“I was.”
“You were already at the crash.”
“No.”
“Then explain your voice.”
“I can’t.”
Serena stared at Julian.
“Were you there?”
He snapped, “No.”
Captain Grant entered the galley.
“We’re ninety minutes from Paris.”
Clara barely heard him.
Michael looked between them.
“Do I need to call ahead for police?”
“Yes,” Clara said.
“No,” Julian said simultaneously.
Michael looked at Clara.
“Yes it is.”
Julian stood.
“You’re making a mistake.”
Michael replied, “Then explain it to authorities on the ground.”
Julian laughed bitterly.
“Do you have any idea what happens if French police detain me publicly?”
Clara turned.
“Maybe you should have thought about public embarrassment before boarding with your mistress.”
He stared at her.
That was the first time Clara allowed herself the satisfaction of seeing him unable to respond.
But the moment passed quickly.
Daniel sent another message.
AUDIO MAY BE SYNTHETIC.
Clara frowned.
She called.
“What?”
“We ran a preliminary forensic test.”
“And?”
“There are irregularities.”
“What kind?”
“The voice may have been inserted later.”
“By whom?”
“No idea.”
Julian watched her face.
“What?”
Clara lowered the phone.
“The recording might be manipulated.”
Julian exhaled.
“I told you.”
“Don’t look relieved.”
“I’m relieved because I wasn’t there.”
“Someone wanted me to think you were.”
“That should concern you.”
“It does.”
Daniel continued through the phone.
“Pike’s original radio device was analog. The recovered file was digitized years later.”
“So someone could have altered the digital copy.”
“Yes.”
“Who had access?”
“We’re tracing it.”
Julian sat.
Clara watched him carefully.
“What case?”
He looked up.
“What?”
“The voice said take the case before his daughter sees it.”
“I don’t know.”
“You said my father had records.”
“Yes.”
“What kind of case?”
“Briefcase, maybe.”
Clara remembered a black leather case her father carried everywhere.
It was missing after his death.
Police told her nothing valuable had been recovered except his wallet, watch, and keys.
She had assumed the case burned in the crash.
“What was in it?”
Julian shook his head.
“I never saw it.”
“Did your father?”
“Probably.”
“What did Edward tell you?”
“Very little.”
“Why?”
“Because he didn’t trust me.”
Clara almost smiled.
“Finally, something sensible.”
Julian ignored the insult.
“My father spent his life compartmentalizing everything. Nobody knew the whole structure.”
“Except Charles?”
“That’s what Charles claims.”
“And Serena works for Charles.”
“Worked.”
Serena interrupted.
“I stopped eight months ago.”
“Why?”
“Because he scared me.”
Clara looked at her.
“What changed?”
“He asked me to put something in Julian’s office.”
“What?”
“A drive.”
Julian’s face tightened.
“You never told me.”
“I’m telling you now.”
“Where is it?”
“I didn’t do it.”
“Where is the drive?”
Serena looked away.
“I threw it away.”
Julian laughed without humor.
“You expect me to believe that?”
Serena suddenly became angry.
“I was sleeping with a married man for money while taking orders from his secret brother. I understand how bad it sounds.”
“It sounds criminal.”
“So does your entire company.”
Clara raised a hand.
“Where did Charles give you the drive?”
“London.”
“When?”
“Eight months ago.”
“Location?”
“The Savoy.”
“What did he say?”
“That once the drive entered Julian’s network, everything would begin.”
Clara’s skin prickled.
“Begin what?”
Serena whispered:
“Restitution.”
Julian stood.
“That’s his word.”
“You know what it means?”
“Yes.”
“What?”
Julian looked toward Clara.
“He believes the Mercer fortune belongs to victims.”
“Victims of what?”
“My grandfather’s operations.”
“How many?”
“Hundreds, maybe thousands.”
Clara felt sick.
“And the eighty million?”
“Could be part of it.”
“You stole from them?”
“I didn’t steal eighty million.”
“Then why is it inside your corporate network?”
“Because someone moved historical funds through modern accounts.”
Clara stared.
“How does eighty million dollars sit inside your company without you noticing?”
“It didn’t sit anywhere. It moved.”
“You’re the chairman.”
“I’m not a forensic accountant.”
“My father was.”
The words landed heavily.
Julian looked away.
Clara suddenly understood something.
“Your father hired mine.”
Julian said nothing.
“Edward Mercer hired Thomas to trace the old money.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because Charles threatened to expose everything.”
“When?”
“Months before Thomas died.”
Clara’s heart pounded.
“So Edward needed my father to find the hidden accounts before Charles did.”
“Yes.”
“And my father discovered something.”
“Yes.”
“What?”
“I don’t know.”
“You keep saying that.”
“Because it’s true.”
Clara stepped closer.
“My father died because of something connected to your family.”
“Yes.”
“You knew that.”
“Yes.”
“And you married me anyway.”
Julian looked at her.
“We were already married.”
Clara corrected herself.
“You stayed married to me.”
“I loved you.”
She stared at him.
The words were almost insulting.
“You protected your family.”
“I protected you.”
“No.”
Her voice shook for the first time.
“You protected the version of me that didn’t know enough to threaten you.”
Julian looked wounded.
Clara hated that too.
Michael’s voice sounded over the intercom.
They were beginning descent.
Everyone needed to sit.
As Clara returned to her jumpseat, Daniel sent one final message before landing.
PIKE JUST CONTACTED ME.
Clara’s pulse jumped.
WHAT DID HE SAY?
Daniel replied.
HE WANTS IMMUNITY.
FOR WHAT?
Three dots appeared.
May you like
Then:
FOR HELPING STAGE YOUR FATHER’S CRASH.
