Chapter 14 - The Driver’s Confession
Frank Delaney had driven Celia Ward for sixteen years. His suit was old, his shoes freshly polished, and his hands trembled when he set the package on the interview table. He asked for counsel before he said another word. The detective respected that. After his lawyer arrived, Frank began.
"The night Marcus died, Mrs. Ward ordered me to take the orange service van to the north bridge. She said it was to meet a contractor about the camera system. Victor came separately. Marcus's car arrived after midnight."
Elena sat with Dana in an adjoining room, watching a permitted video feed. She had wanted the truth. She had not imagined how much it would hurt to hear someone describe it plainly.
"What happened?" Pierce asked.
Frank swallowed. "Victor blocked Marcus near the guardrail. They argued. I heard Marcus shout, 'I'm not giving you the files.' Victor grabbed at his door. Marcus pulled away. Victor drove after him. I turned the van to follow. By the time I got around the bend, Marcus's car was through the rail."
"Did you see Victor strike the car?"
"No. I heard the crash. When I reached the gap, Victor was standing beside his SUV. He was shaking. He said it was an accident."
"What did Celia say?"
"She told me to take the van back and clean it. Then she called someone at the police department." Frank wiped his eyes. "I should've called for help. I should've gone down the slope. Maybe he was still alive."
Elena pressed her palm to the window. She couldn't forgive the failure, and she didn't have to decide tonight whether she ever would. But she could see the human cost of the machine Celia had built. It turned one frightened employee into an accomplice, then made his silence seem like the only way to survive.
Frank opened the envelope. Inside were copies of bank receipts, the original camera shutdown request, and a flash drive Marcus had given him minutes before the confrontation. "He said, 'If they stop me, give this to Elena.' I was too scared."
Pierce had the drive secured for forensic review.
A new message lit up Frank's phone before he handed it over.
TELL THEM ABOUT THE SECOND CAR, FRANK.
May you like
His face drained. "I didn't know anybody else was there."
* * *
