Chapter 2 - LILY HEARD EVERYTHINGThe recording continued.
Julian's voice came through the speaker again.
“Move the documents tonight. After that, nobody can prove anything.”
Marcus stared at the hidden camera.
Officer Davis immediately called another officer.
“Secure that device. Nobody touches it.”
Julian backed toward the stairs.
“This is fabricated.”
Marcus rose slowly.
“You just heard your own voice.”
“It could be edited.”
Officer Davis looked at him.
“Then we'll have the recording analyzed.”
Julian said nothing.
Claire remained on the floor.
Davis cut the restraints from her wrist.
“Can you stand?”
Claire nodded.
Marcus helped her up.
Lily ran into her mother's arms.
“Mommy!”
Claire wrapped both arms around her daughter.
“I told you I'd come back.”
Lily buried her face against Claire's shoulder.
“I knew Daddy was lying.”
Julian snapped.
“Lily!”
The child flinched.
Claire turned sharply.
“Don't you ever yell at her again.”
Julian's expression changed.
For the first time, fear appeared beneath his anger.
Officer Davis noticed.
He stepped between them.
“Mr. Julian Vale, you're going to remain here while we search the residence.”
Julian laughed.
“You think a camera proves I kidnapped my wife?”
“No,” Davis said.
“We think you have a lot more explaining to do.”
The officers began searching the basement.
They found a folding chair.
Plastic restraints.
Medical tape.
A portable generator.
A laptop.
And several empty storage cases.
Marcus stared at the equipment.
“This wasn't some storage room.”
Claire shook her head.
“No.”
“What happened?”
She hesitated.
Then whispered:
“I found evidence.”
“What evidence?”
“Money transfers.”
Marcus looked confused.
“What money?”
Claire glanced at Julian.
“The Vale family trust.”
Julian suddenly stepped forward.
“You don't know what you're saying.”
Claire looked at him.
“I know exactly what I'm saying.”
She had discovered irregular withdrawals from an account established by Julian's father before his death.
Millions had vanished.
At first Claire thought it was a banking error.
Then she found companies she had never heard of.
Companies controlled by people connected to Julian.
She had confronted him.
He denied everything.
The next morning, her laptop disappeared.
Then Lily's school records were accessed.
Then Claire's bank account was frozen.
Finally, someone followed her car home.
That was when she knew.
The missing money wasn't an accident.
Julian had been stealing from the trust.
Marcus stared at him.
“How much?”
Claire swallowed.
“Eleven point eight million dollars.”
The room went silent.
Officer Davis exchanged a look with another officer.
Julian shook his head.
“She is mentally unstable.”
Claire stiffened.
“You said that before.”
Julian smiled faintly.
“You've been under stress.”
Marcus stepped toward him.
“Don't.”
Julian looked at Marcus.
“You've always wanted to be the hero.”
“What did you say?”
“I said you've always loved rescuing Claire.”
Claire looked at Marcus.
Julian continued.
“Maybe that's why you're so desperate to believe her.”
Marcus clenched his fists.
Officer Davis intervened.
“Enough.”
Then one of the officers called from the far wall.
“Officer Davis!”
Everyone turned.
“There’s something here.”
A section of concrete sounded hollow.
Davis walked over.
He tapped the wall.
Once.
Twice.
Then three times.
Hollow.
Marcus looked at Claire.
“You knew about that?”
Claire shook her head.
“No.”
Davis ordered the officers to clear the area.
A crowbar slid into a narrow crack.
The concrete panel came loose.
Behind it was a small metal box.
Julian went completely still.
Claire noticed.
“You know what's inside.”
Julian said nothing.
Davis opened the box.
Inside was a single red folder.
And on top of it was a photograph.
Marcus picked it up.
It showed Julian standing beside a young woman.
A woman Claire had never seen before.
Written across the bottom in black ink were five words:
SHE KNOWS WHAT JULIAN DID.
Claire stared at the photograph.
Then her face drained of color.
“I know her.”
Marcus looked at her.
“Who is she?”
Claire whispered:
“My sister.”
Marcus froze.
“But your sister died eight years ago.”
Claire looked at the photograph again.
“No.”
May you like
Her voice trembled.
“She was supposed to.”
Related Stories
