Chapter 7 - The Driver

The SUV stopped fifty feet away.

Nobody got out.

Adrian whispered, "That's my old driver's car."

"Old driver?" Emma asked.

"Gavin Cole. Vivian fired him last year."

Vivian laughed softly. "I didn't fire him."

Adrian looked at her.

"You told me he stole from us."

"I told you what you needed to hear."

The SUV's high beams came on.

Emma lifted one arm to shield her eyes.

Then the vehicle accelerated.

"Move!" Adrian shouted.

They jumped behind a stone planter as the SUV slammed into the catering carts. Metal exploded across the driveway.

Emma heard Vivian scream.

The SUV reversed.

Adrian grabbed Emma's wrist. "Inside!"

"Lauren might be in there."

"Emma!"

The rear passenger door suddenly opened.

Lauren tumbled out onto the wet pavement.

She was barefoot, wrists tied with a plastic zip tie.

"Go!" she screamed.

The driver threw the SUV into reverse.

Emma ran to Lauren while Adrian dragged Vivian toward the villa.

The SUV disappeared through the gate before police cars reached the property.

Emma cut Lauren's wrists with a catering knife.

"Are you hurt?"

"No. Just terrified."

"Who was driving?"

"Gavin."

"Did he say anything?"

Lauren nodded, breathing hard.

"He kept asking about the key. He said Nora hid something in a bank box that could destroy all of them."

"All of who?"

"He wouldn't say."

Police flooded the driveway.

Vivian had disappeared into the house.

Adrian swore and followed the officers inside.

Emma helped Lauren stand.

"Why did my mother trust you?"

Lauren wiped rain from her face.

"Because I used to work for Harrington Private Trust."

Emma stared at her.

"You told me you were Vivian's friend."

"I am. That's why your mother came to me."

"That makes no sense."

"It will."

Lauren looked toward the villa.

"But not here."

Emma's phone buzzed.

A message from Marcus.

PACIFIC CREST BANK OPENS AT 8:30.

Then another.

DO NOT GO ALONE.

Emma closed her hand around the brass key.

Across the driveway, Vivian appeared behind an upstairs window.

She raised one finger to her lips.

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Then she drew it slowly across her throat.

Lauren's wrists were already bruising. Emma wrapped them with a clean bar towel and realized with a cold certainty that every person around Vivian had been playing two roles.