Chapter 8 - THE SECRET CHARLES HAYES TOOK TO HIS GRAVE
Daniel Voss looked older than his photographs.
But not dead.
Clara could barely speak.
"I went to your funeral."
Voss gave a tired smile.
"So did I."
Julian stepped between them.
"Explain."
Voss looked at him.
"You have your father's eyes."
"Don't talk about my father."
"That's going to make tonight difficult."
Police emerged from the shadows.
Voss raised both hands.
Bishop approached.
"Daniel Voss?"
"Sometimes."
She frowned.
He handed her identification.
The name read Edward Vale.
Clara stared.
"You lied to me."
"I survived."
"By letting me believe you were dead?"
"That was the point."
Julian's voice sharpened.
"Start talking."
Voss looked toward the lake.
"Charles Hayes discovered the theft before I did."
Julian froze.
"My father knew?"
"He knew money was disappearing. He didn't know who was taking it."
"Then why didn't he call police?"
"He didn't know whom to trust."
Voss glanced at Bishop.
"Law enforcement included."
Bishop didn't react.
Voss continued.
"Charles approached me because I had inspected several properties connected to the false invoices."
Clara shook her head.
"You approached me."
"Because Charles asked me to."
The betrayal landed visibly.
Clara stepped backward.
"My entire case was arranged?"
"No."
"You came into my office because he told you to."
"Yes."
"You let me spend months investigating."
"Because you were good."
"You used me."
"Because you were outside the Hayes system."
Julian stared at Voss.
"And when she got close?"
"Someone tried to kill me."
Clara's face changed.
"The accident."
"Wasn't an accident."
"Who?"
Voss looked directly at Julian.
"I never knew."
Julian thought of Lawrence.
Eleanor.
Sienna.
Nathan.
"Why disappear?"
"Charles insisted."
"My father staged your death?"
"With help."
"From whom?"
Voss looked at Bishop.
"A federal contact."
Morrow.
Clara understood simultaneously.
"Henry."
Voss nodded.
"Morrow was young then. He helped create a false death record and moved me."
Julian felt sick.
"My father built a secret investigation inside his own family."
"Yes."
"And he never told me."
"He was trying to protect you."
Julian laughed bitterly.
"Everyone keeps saying that right before explaining another lie."
Voss looked sympathetic.
"Charles believed one of his children might be involved."
Julian's expression emptied.
"One of his children."
"Yes."
"Me or Sienna."
"Yes."
Clara looked at Julian.
Voss continued.
"He didn't know which."
Julian took a step toward him.
"My father suspected me of stealing from his charity?"
"He suspected someone was using your corporate network."
"I didn't join Hayes International until after several transfers occurred."
"Your authorization codes appeared on later ones."
Julian stared.
"That's impossible."
"Charles thought so too."
"Then why suspect me?"
"Because the codes were genuine."
Silence.
Voss reached into his coat.
Police immediately raised weapons.
He stopped.
"Photograph."
Bishop retrieved it herself.
The photograph showed a younger Julian outside the restaurant.
Voss pointed toward the edge.
A reflection in the restaurant glass revealed another man.
Charles Hayes.
Watching his son.
Julian stared.
Voss said quietly, "Your father wasn't following Clara."
May you like
Julian looked at him.
"He was following you."
