Chapter 19 - The Last Lie
Victoria denied it.
“I didn’t know,” she said. “I swear.”
Arthur sat across from her in an interview room the next morning, his arm bandaged and his patience gone.
“Stop swearing.”
She looked down.
“The money went to an account in Belize under a company registered in your maiden name.”
“I never opened it.”
“Then who did?”
Victoria began to cry.
Arthur did not move.
Finally, she whispered, “Graham.”
“Why?”
“As insurance. He told me if anything went wrong, there would be money waiting.”
“And you believed him?”
“I wanted to.”
That was the ugliest truth because it required no conspiracy.
She had wanted the money. Wanted the life. Wanted the safety of an escape route more than she wanted to ask what it would cost.
Detective Kim recovered the funds within hours because Graham’s desperate transfer had triggered multiple fraud alerts. Shaw’s men were arrested. Nolan agreed to cooperate in exchange for consideration at sentencing. The police leak network collapsed with Shaw.
Graham was charged with kidnapping, conspiracy, wire fraud, extortion, attempted murder, and more.
Victoria faced kidnapping, fraud, child endangerment, unlawful restraint, and conspiracy charges of her own.
Before she was taken away, she asked to see Leo.
Arthur said no.
Leo surprised him.
“I want to tell her something.”
They met in a monitored room with two officers present.
Victoria looked smaller without jewelry, makeup, or control.
“Leo,” she said, crying immediately. “I’m so sorry.”
Leo stood beside Arthur.
“You said Dad would stop loving me.”
Victoria covered her mouth.
“You said nobody would hear me.”
“I was wrong.”
Leo looked toward Elena, who stood near the door.
“She heard me.”
Victoria nodded.
“And Dad came.”
“Yes.”
Leo’s voice was quiet but firm. “I don’t forgive you.”
Victoria closed her eyes.
Arthur put a hand on Leo’s shoulder.
Leo added, “Maybe one day I won’t be scared when I think about you. But that’s not the same thing.”
The officer led Victoria away.
In the hallway, Arthur looked at his son with tears in his eyes.
Leo frowned. “Why are you crying?”
Arthur pulled him close.
“Because you’re braver than I was.”
Then Elena’s phone rang.
She listened, and her expression changed.
“What?” Arthur asked.
May you like
She looked at him.
“They found something else inside the mansion wall.”
