Chapter 9 - The Driver)
Katherine Bell had survived the crash with a broken collarbone, a concussion, and seventeen stitches across her scalp.
She had also survived with fear.
Victoria had found her in the hospital before police completed their second interview.
Marjorie told Rachel everything.
Amelia had asked Katherine for help on November 9 because she no longer trusted estate security.
Katherine had worked occasional housekeeping shifts at Kensington Estate and was studying accounting.
Amelia believed Katherine could understand the financial records.
They left together that morning.
Katherine drove Amelia's sedan.
On a rural road outside Charlottesville, a dark SUV followed them.
It accelerated.
Struck the sedan from behind.
Katherine lost control.
The car crossed the center line.
A delivery truck hit the passenger side.
Amelia died before emergency crews arrived.
Katherine saw the SUV stop farther down the road.
Victoria stepped out.
For five seconds.
Long enough to look back.
Then she drove away.
"Why didn't Katherine tell police?" Rachel asked.
"She did."
Marjorie wiped her face.
"The first detective believed her. Then Gregory Shaw arrived."
"Why was Shaw there?"
"He said he was representing the Kensington family."
Rachel felt nauseated.
"He worked for Nathan."
"Yes."
Marjorie continued.
"Shaw told police Katherine had suffered a concussion and was confused. Later he came to my house and showed me documents."
"What documents?"
"Evidence that Katherine had stolen from the estate."
"Had she?"
"No."
"But it looked real."
Rachel understood the threat.
Marjorie nodded.
"He said if Katherine kept talking, she would go to prison. Then Victoria paid for her medical treatment and moved her to a recovery center."
"Where is Katherine now?"
Marjorie looked at Rachel.
"Canada."
Rachel stared.
"She ran?"
"I sent her."
"Can she testify?"
"I don't know."
"Does Nathan know?"
"No."
Rachel stood.
"He needs to."
"Rachel."
"He is being accused of arranging Amelia's death."
Marjorie closed her eyes.
"I know."
"Then why are you still protecting this secret?"
"Because Victoria knows where Katherine lives."
Rachel stopped.
Marjorie looked toward Elara's room.
"And I think she knows Lauren came back."
The next morning Nathan returned from police questioning.
He looked exhausted but controlled.
Rachel told him about Katherine.
He listened without interruption.
When she finished, he sat in silence.
Then he said, "Call her."
Marjorie did.
Katherine answered.
Her voice shook when she heard Nathan.
"I'm sorry."
Nathan looked away.
"You have nothing to apologize for."
"I should have told you."
"You were threatened."
"I saw her."
Nathan's breathing changed.
"You saw Victoria."
"Yes."
"Are you certain?"
"Yes."
Nathan closed his eyes.
"Will you speak to police?"
Silence.
Then Katherine asked, "Can you protect my mother?"
Nathan looked at Marjorie.
"Yes."
"Then I'll come home."
Victoria's guardianship hearing was scheduled for the following day.
Michael requested an emergency delay.
Denied.
Katherine could not arrive in time.
They would have to survive the hearing without her.
Victoria entered the courthouse wearing pale gray.
She looked calm.
She greeted Nathan as though they were grieving relatives at a funeral.
"I never wanted this," she said.
Nathan stared at her.
"Then withdraw the petition."
Victoria's eyes softened.
"You need help."
Rachel stood three feet away.
Victoria looked toward her.
"And you need better judgment."
Rachel smiled faintly.
"I have a USB drive."
Victoria's expression did not change.
But one finger twitched.
Rachel noticed.
So did Nathan.
"What USB?" Victoria asked.
Rachel did not answer.
It was a bluff.
The recovered files were already with Michael.
Rachel carried an empty drive.
But Victoria did not know that.
The hearing lasted three hours.
Victoria's attorney presented photographs.
Statements.
Shaw's allegations.
Nathan's travel schedule.
His angry emails.
The laboratory report showing Elara had been exposed to unauthorized sedating medication.
Victoria claimed Rachel must have administered it.
Then Rachel testified.
She described the camera gaps.
The bottle.
The altered security system.
The hidden key.
The bank records.
Victoria's attorney attacked every answer.
"You are not a detective, Ms. Monroe."
"No."
"You are not a medical professional."
"No."
"You are not a forensic analyst."
"No."
"You have worked for this family less than a month."
"Correct."
"And yet you expect this court to believe you uncovered a criminal conspiracy?"
Rachel looked directly at the judge.
"No. I expect the evidence to show it."
Michael introduced the recovered video frame of Victoria holding the amber bottle.
Then the dressing-room image of Victoria confronting Amelia three days before the bank box was emptied.
The courtroom changed.
Victoria's attorney requested a recess.
The judge refused.
Then Michael played Amelia's audio.
If anything happens to me, Nathan needs to know what you did.
Victoria stopped looking calm.
The judge denied her request for temporary guardianship.
Nathan retained custody.
For the first time, Rachel thought they might win.
Then Victoria approached her outside the courtroom.
Security stood nearby.
Victoria smiled.
"You think this ends because a judge said no?"
Rachel said nothing.
Victoria leaned slightly closer.
"You still don't understand what Amelia hid."
"What?"
"The drive."
Rachel kept her face neutral.
Victoria's smile returned.
"She didn't hide it from me."
Rachel felt cold.
"She hid it from Nathan."
Victoria stepped away.
Rachel watched her leave.
That night, Nathan received a message from an unknown number.
One photograph.
Amelia standing beside a storage locker.
A timestamp from the morning she died.
May you like
Beneath it were six words.
Ask Rachel what she already knows.
