Chapter 16 - The Video
The second drive was hidden in a place no one would have searched without Victoria’s information.
Inside the hollow base of a trophy Marcus kept in his Manhattan apartment.
Detectives recovered it by noon.
Richard refused to watch the video near Maya.
He went to a conference room at police headquarters with Daniel and Officer Brooks.
The recording came from a gas-station camera on the old Greenwich road.
Caroline’s car appeared just after 9:00 p.m.
She pulled into the station.
A dark sedan stopped behind her.
Marcus got out.
Richard leaned toward the screen.
Marcus approached Caroline’s window.
They argued.
No audio.
Caroline tried to drive away.
Marcus grabbed the door handle.
Then another figure stepped from the passenger side of the sedan.
Victoria.
Richard felt the room tilt.
She walked to Caroline’s car and leaned toward the window.
Caroline’s expression changed.
Fear.
She locked the doors.
Then she drove off.
The dark sedan followed.
The gas-station footage ended there.
A second clip began from a traffic camera three miles away.
Caroline’s car sped through an intersection.
The sedan remained behind her.
Thirty seconds later, Caroline disappeared around a curve.
The dark sedan slowed.
Stopped.
Then turned around.
Minutes later, emergency calls reported Caroline’s crash at the bottom of the hill.
Richard covered his mouth.
Brooks paused the video.
“We can prove they followed her. We can prove the brakes were tampered with. We can prove Victoria paid the mechanic.”
Richard stared at the frozen image.
“Can you prove murder?”
“We’re building it.”
Daniel’s phone buzzed.
He read the message and looked up.
“Marcus wants to make a deal.”
Richard’s eyes sharpened.
“What kind?”
“He’ll testify against Victoria and identify everyone involved in the financial scheme if prosecutors reduce the kidnapping and conspiracy charges.”
Richard almost laughed.
“He points a gun at my daughter and now wants a discount?”
Brooks said quietly, “Deals happen.”
Richard stood.
“Then make sure he knows I’ll spend every dollar I have helping prosecutors find every crime he ever committed.”
Daniel nodded.
Richard headed for the door.
Brooks called after him.
“Richard.”
He turned.
“There’s something else on the drive.”
“What?”
“A recording made two months ago.”
She hesitated.
“It’s Victoria talking to Maya.”
Richard’s face changed.
May you like
Brooks said, “You may not want to hear it.”
Richard answered, “I need to.”
