Chapter 10 - The Husband Behind the Glass
Daniel forced open the cabinet.
A phone lay on top of a stack of ledgers.
It was not Victor’s usual phone. It was a prepaid device with no saved contacts.
The screen displayed an incoming call from a blocked number.
Mara answered and activated the speaker.
No one spoke.
Then a distorted voice said, “Leave the files and the door will open.”
Patricia moved toward the phone.
“Victor?”
The caller disconnected.
Daniel checked the archive door again.
“It’s electronically locked.”
Mara turned on her flashlight and searched the walls.
Eleanor would not have created a secure room with only one exit.
Behind the projector screen, she found a manual release lever. It had been tied in place with wire.
Someone had prepared the trap before they arrived.
Daniel used a metal ruler from the desk to break the wire.
The lock released.
Outside, both security officers were unconscious near the main entrance.
They were breathing. Neither appeared seriously injured.
Adrian arrived minutes later with additional staff and police officers.
The security footage from the lighthouse path had been disabled.
Patricia stood apart while officers questioned them.
Mara watched her cousin.
The arrogance was gone.
In its place was humiliation of a different kind: the realization that she had defended a man whose secrets were larger than his affection for her.
Back at the resort, Victor was missing.
His luggage remained in the room. His passport was gone.
The marina records showed no departure, and the gates had been closed since Dr. Trent vanished.
Patricia insisted on seeing the room herself.
Mara went with her.
Victor’s clothing hung neatly in the wardrobe. His toiletries remained beside the sink. On the desk sat his laptop, wiped clean.
Patricia opened the safe.
Empty.
“He kept cash here,” she said. “And documents.”
“What documents?”
“Investment certificates. Copies of loan agreements.”
“Did you read them?”
“No.”
Mara looked at her.
Patricia laughed bitterly.
“You’re going to ask how I could be so blind.”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Because you weren’t blind. You looked away.”
Patricia’s face hardened, but she did not argue.
She sat on the bed.
“He told me you hated me.”
“I didn’t.”
“He said you resented everything Grandmother gave me.”
“I resented how you treated me.”
“He said you were waiting for Grandmother to die so you could challenge the estate.”
“Did that sound like me?”
Patricia looked down.
“No.”
“Then why believe him?”
“Because it made me feel safer.”
Mara understood more than she wanted to.
Patricia had built her identity on being chosen. Chosen by the family, by Victor, by Eleanor’s visible generosity. Believing Mara was jealous allowed Patricia to avoid asking whether any of that love was conditional.
A knock sounded.
Adrian entered with a police detective named Sofia Reyes.
“We found Dr. Trent,” Sofia said.
Patricia stood.
“Is he alive?”
“Yes. He was left in a maintenance building outside the north gate. He was sedated but is conscious.”
“Can we speak to him?” Mara asked.
“At the hospital, once the doctors approve.”
Sofia placed the prepaid phone in an evidence bag.
“We also found fingerprints in the lighthouse archive.”
“Victor’s?” Patricia asked.
“No.”
“Whose?”
“Frederick Cole’s.”
Mara remembered Eleanor’s warning.
Do not let Frederick enter the lighthouse.
“Are they recent?” she asked.
“The preliminary scan cannot determine age. But one print was on the wire used to disable the emergency release.”
Patricia looked almost relieved.
“So Frederick trapped us.”
“Not necessarily,” Mara said.
“You always defend him.”
“I don’t trust easy answers.”
Sofia studied Mara.
“That is probably wise. Mr. Cole is also missing.”
The family gathered in the conference room that afternoon.
Rumors had spread among them. Linda demanded to leave. Raymond accused the resort of unlawful confinement. Several cousins wanted the police to explain why they were being questioned.
Adrian stood near the door.
“No guest is detained,” he said. “However, vehicles may be searched under the conditions of entry while an abduction investigation is active.”
Raymond pointed at Mara.
“This began when she arrived.”
“No,” Daniel said. “It began years ago.”
Patricia entered behind them.
Every conversation stopped.
She walked to the front of the room.
“Victor is gone.”
Linda rose.
“What do you mean, gone?”
“He left without telling me.”
“Maybe he’s helping the police.”
“He took his passport.”
Raymond’s expression changed.
Mara saw it.
“You knew he planned to leave,” she said.
Raymond looked at her.
“Don’t be absurd.”
“You weren’t surprised.”
“I don’t perform emotions for you.”
“No. You perform control.”
Raymond moved closer.
“You have no idea what you’re interfering with.”
“Then explain it.”
“Your grandmother built a complicated structure that damaged this family for decades. She controlled everyone through money and secrets.”
“That doesn’t justify forged transfers.”
“You think land matters more than people?”
“I think you used people to take land.”
Linda stepped between them.
“Raymond has protected this family.”
“From what?” Daniel asked.
“From poverty. From scandal. From people who would destroy our name.”
Patricia gave a hollow laugh.
“Our name?”
Everyone looked at her.
She placed the photograph of Charles Dane on the table.
“My father helped create Blue Harbor.”
Linda’s face changed.
Raymond whispered, “Where did you get that?”
“The lighthouse.”
He lunged for it.
Mara took the photograph first.
Sofia stepped into his path.
“Sit down, Mr. Sutton.”
Raymond stopped.
His calm finally cracked.
“You don’t understand what that man did.”
“Charles?” Mara asked.
Raymond’s eyes moved toward Patricia.
“He destroyed Vivian.”
Patricia’s voice trembled.
“My mother said he was dead.”
“She wanted him dead.”
“Where is he?”
Raymond looked at the photograph.
“I don’t know.”
Mara watched his hands.
He was frightened, but not of the police.
A phone rang inside the room.
It came from Eleanor’s memorial display.
Adrian removed the decorative panel beneath the screen and found another prepaid device taped behind it.
The phone rang again.
Mara answered.
Victor’s voice came through clearly.
“Patricia, listen carefully. Your father is alive.”
Patricia grabbed the edge of the table.
May you like
Victor continued.
“And he has been inside the resort since yesterday.”
Related Stories
