Chapter 10 - The Husband Who Knew Too MuchDavina's marriage had been built on a secret neither of them could survive.
Davina confessed everything before Holt was brought in.
She had been twenty-six when Elise disappeared.
Holt had already been working for my father.
He managed several of the family's shell companies.
"Elise found financial records," Davina said.
"Why would Holt care?"
"Because he was moving the money."
My mother's face crumbled.
"You knew?"
Davina looked at her.
"We all knew pieces."
"Not me."
"You were the one they kept innocent."
I laughed.
"Innocent?"
"You were the useful daughter."
Those words hurt more than anything else.
"What does that mean?"
"You were predictable."
I looked at Juny.
Davina continued.
"You kept the peace. You believed people when they said they were sorry. You never demanded documents."
My hands curled into fists.
"And you?"
"I learned to survive."
"By helping Holt?"
"By helping myself."
"Did you kill Elise?"
"No."
"But you know who did."
Davina nodded.
"Your father."
My father shook his head.
"Don't."
She turned toward him.
"You told me to make the call."
"What call?"
I asked.
Davina looked at me.
"The night Elise died."
She explained.
Elise had planned to expose the offshore accounts.
She had copies.
She was going to Augusta.
My father intercepted her.
But he didn't kill her.
He hired someone.
"Who?"
Davina looked at Holt.
"Him."
Holt was brought into the room.
He was pale.
No longer confident.
No longer Davina's polished husband.
Just a man who knew his life had ended.
"You ordered it," Davina said.
Holt stared at her.
"You were the one who told me where she would be."
"Because you said she only needed to be scared."
"You knew what would happen."
"I didn't."
Holt laughed.
"You always knew."
He looked at me.
"Your father paid me."
"For what?"
"To scare Elise."
"And then?"
"I lost control."
"How?"
"Her car went off the bridge."
Silence.
Juny covered her mouth.
Sarah closed her eyes.
"She was alive," Holt continued.
"What?"
"After the crash."
Everyone turned.
"She survived."
My heart stopped.
"What happened to her?"
Holt looked at Sarah.
"She disappeared."
"Where?"
"I don't know."
Sarah stepped forward.
"My mother didn't disappear."
Holt looked at her.
"She was taken."
"By who?"
He shook his head.
"I never knew."
Then my father spoke.
"Because Augusta paid to hide her."
Everyone froze.
"What?"
My father looked at Sarah.
"Your mother survived."
Sarah's knees nearly buckled.
"Where is she?"
My father said:
"She's dead now."
Sarah slapped him.
He did not move.
"You knew?"
"I found her years later."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because she was dying."
"Where?"
My father looked toward the lake.
"At a rehabilitation facility in Vermont."
My heart sank.
"Augusta knew?"
"Yes."
"And she died without telling Sarah?"
"She made me promise."
"Why?"
My father whispered:
"Because Elise begged her not to."
Sarah started crying.
Not loudly.
Just one tear.
Then another.
She looked at me.
"There's one last thing."
"What?"
"Elise didn't hide the money."
She opened her bag.
A small metal key lay in her palm.
"B-17 had two boxes."
Miss Castellano's face changed.
"That's impossible."
Sarah smiled sadly.
"My mother told me where the second one was."
"Where?"
Sarah pointed toward the lake.
"Under the dock."
We ran.
The water was freezing.
Under the third support beam, I found a metal container.
Inside was another USB drive.
And a photograph.
The photograph showed Augusta.
Elise.
Sarah.
And Juny.
Taken the same day.
On the back Augusta had written:
Only one of these girls carries my blood.
I turned it over.
May you like
A second sentence had been added beneath it.
The other carries my revenge.
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