Chapter 15 - The Second Car
The second vehicle appeared on a distant camera from the opposite bank: a silver sedan that waited beneath a streetlamp and departed two minutes after the crash. Investigators matched its partial plate to a car used by Deputy Chief George Bellamy. He claimed he'd been home that night. His phone records told a different story.
"He came to make sure nobody filed the right report," Pierce said. "That's our working theory. We still need the records and testimony to support it."
Elena hated the word theory. She wanted something as hard and undeniable as marble under a man's falling knee. But the truth of Marcus's last minutes lived inside timestamps and memories, and every memory belonged to a frightened person.
Dana persuaded her to return to work. Before marrying Victor, Elena had designed interiors for small theaters and public libraries. She began helping a community arts center renovate its lobby, choosing paint samples and arguing affectionately about the location of a coat rack. It felt strange to make decisions no one needed to approve.
One afternoon Sofia brought children from her music program to tour the building. A boy asked Elena why she was on the news.
"Someone tried to hurt me," she said, "and people are figuring out what happened."
"Did you hit him back?"
"I got out of the way."
"That's not as cool," he declared.
Elena smiled. "It let me get home. That's pretty cool."
Her phone rang as the children left. It was Victor, calling from a blocked number. She recorded the call where legally permitted and told him she would end it if he threatened her.
"You ruined my life," he said.
"You made your choices."
"Mom says the prosecutor is getting close. She'll put everything on me."
"Then tell the truth to your lawyer and the authorities."
"You don't understand. She has a recording of me at the bridge."
Elena stood motionless among the paint cans.
Victor's voice dropped. "If I testify, she releases the whole thing. If I don't, she lets me take the fall."
"Victor," Elena said, "what exactly did you do to my brother?"
May you like
The line went dead.
* * *
