Chapter 14 - What the Cameras Missed
"Take your hand off me," Claire snapped.
"No."
The word echoed through the foyer.
Dominic appeared at the top of the stairs.
Hannah saw him before Claire did.
Nicholas saw him too.
"The cameras are down," Dominic said.
Claire pulled free from Hannah.
"Good."
Hannah's pulse pounded.
The security monitor went black.
Electronic locks clicked through the mansion.
Dominic came down the stairs slowly.
"Give me your phone," he said to Hannah.
"Why?"
"Because I asked nicely."
"You didn't."
Nicholas coughed a laugh from the floor.
"I told you she was difficult."
Dominic's face changed.
"You're not sedated."
Nicholas looked up.
"Disappointed?"
Claire backed away.
"This is a setup."
"Yes," Hannah said.
Claire's head snapped toward her.
Hannah touched the pocket of her scrub top.
"The pills you switched tested positive for a medication Nicholas was never prescribed. The authorizations are forged. The rehabilitation cancellations are forged. And your conversation last night is recorded."
Dominic reached inside his jacket.
Hannah stopped breathing.
He pulled out a handgun.
"Give me the evidence bag."
Claire whispered, "Dominic, don't."
"You wanted control. This is what control looks like."
Nicholas shifted slightly, putting his body between the weapon and Hannah even from the floor.
"If you shoot her, you lose."
"I already lost when she started opening bottles."
Hannah forced herself not to look toward the front door.
Detective Ruiz and her team were supposed to be outside.
Supposed to be listening.
But the locks had engaged.
Dominic held out his hand.
"Bag. Now."
Hannah reached slowly into her pocket.
Claire moved closer to Dominic.
"Just take it and let's go."
"There is nowhere to go," Nicholas said.
Dominic pointed the gun at him.
"You always thought you were the smartest man in the room."
"No. I just knew you weren't."
Dominic's arm jerked with anger.
That was the moment Walter stepped from the side hallway.
"Enough."
Dominic turned the weapon toward him.
Walter raised both hands.
"You want the drive? I have it."
Hannah looked at him.
He did not.
The drive was taped beneath Ethan's paper crane inside Hannah's apartment.
Dominic took one step toward Walter.
A glass pane beside the front door shattered inward.
Officers surged through the opening.
"Police! Drop the weapon!"
Claire screamed.
Dominic spun.
Nicholas grabbed the fallen wheelchair frame and shoved it into Dominic's legs.
Dominic crashed sideways.
The gun skidded across the marble.
Ruiz kicked it away.
Within seconds Dominic was facedown in handcuffs.
Claire stood perfectly still.
Then she pointed at Walter.
"Ask him," she said.
Ruiz looked up.
Claire's voice shook with rage.
"Ask Walter who signed Rebecca's death paperwork. Ask him why her body was cremated before Nicholas ever saw the full toxicology report."
Nicholas stared at the man who had raised him.
May you like
Walter slowly lowered his hands.
And did not deny it.
