Chapter 13 - The Price of a Name
The building's security camera caught the dark SUV from Evelyn's cottage. Mara recognized the dent near its rear light. Rosa hadn't gone willingly; she could be seen struggling as a man steered her toward the passenger door.
Detective Laila Brooks arrived and took the footage. Unlike the palace guards, she asked questions and waited for the answers. She issued an alert for the vehicle and told Mara to stop chasing armed men without backup.
"My father's case waited eleven years," Mara said. "I'm done waiting."
"Then help me build something a jury can believe," Brooks replied. "Your anger is justified. It isn't evidence."
Celeste called Adrian as dawn paled the windows. He put her on speaker. Her voice sounded scraped thin.
"Dad wants me to sign a statement saying Mara attacked me. His lawyer wrote it."
"Will you?" Adrian asked.
"No. I kicked her. Twice."
Mara felt that admission settle in the room. It did not erase Celeste's cruelty, but it took away one lie the Bellamys might have used.
"Then tell Detective Brooks," Mara said.
Celeste gave a bitter laugh. "You think honesty fixes everything? My father put an account in my name when I was a teenager. He used it to pay people who buried reports. If he goes down, my name is on every transfer."
"Were you part of it?"
"Not then. Last month he asked me to approve the demolition. I signed without reading the attachments. I knew there were people trying to reopen the case. I told myself they were looking for money."
For a moment no one spoke.
"Come to the station," Brooks said. "Bring what you signed."
Celeste's breath caught. "I'll bring more than that. There's a green folder in my father's safe. The original safety variance is inside."
A pause. Then a male voice entered the call, smooth and furious.
May you like
"Celeste," Grant Varrick said. "Put down the phone."
The connection cut off.
