Chapter 8: Chloe's Confession
Victor didn't come toward us.
He simply stood in the doorway.
Watching.
Rebecca's hand tightened around my wrist.
“Don't look at him.””
I looked anyway.
He was older than the man in the photograph.
But it was unmistakably him.
Same narrow face.
Same sharp eyes.
Michael stood between us.
“Who are you?””
Victor smiled.
“Your mother's family has always had a talent for making simple things complicated.””
Michael's jaw tightened.
“You know my mother?””
“I've known her longer than you have.””
I stood.
“What do you want?””
Victor's smile disappeared.
“The truth.””
“You've had twenty years.””
“And so have you.””
He looked at Rebecca.
“You should have destroyed the documents.””
Rebecca's voice shook.
“I couldn't.””
“You were told to.””
“I was told many things.””
Victor took another step.
Michael reached for his phone.
Victor noticed.
“Call the police.””
Michael did.
Victor didn't stop him.
That frightened me more than if he had.
“Why aren't you afraid?”” Michael asked.
Victor smiled.
“Because your father already lost.””
I looked at him.
“My father?””
“Arthur.””
The name sounded wrong coming from Victor.
“You knew him.””
“I worked for him.””
“Did he forge my signature?””
Victor hesitated.
Then he said:
“No.””
I felt my breath catch.
“Then who did?””
Victor looked at Rebecca.
She closed her eyes.
“Your mother.””
I stared at her.
“What?””
Rebecca began crying.
“She didn't know what she was doing.””
Victor continued.
“Your mother signed documents believing they were medical releases.””
“She was sick.””
“Yes.””
“And you used her.””
“No.””
Victor looked at me.
“Your father did.””
Michael stepped forward.
“Stop lying.””
Victor laughed.
“You think you know what happened because you found a few papers?””
“I know enough.””
“No.””
Victor's voice became cold.
“You know what people wanted you to know.””
The police siren sounded outside.
Victor glanced toward the window.
Then he walked away.
Michael ran to the door.
“Stop!””
Victor disappeared into the darkness.
The police arrived two minutes later.
By the time they searched the parking lot, he was gone.
But Rebecca remained.
And she finally told us what she had been hiding.
“Chloe has the video.””
I stared at her.
“Where?””
“I don't know.””
“Then why did you say she was trying to make me leave?””
Rebecca took a breath.
“Because Chloe isn't on Victor's side.””
Michael looked stunned.
“She isn't?””
“No.””
“She stole the video.””
“To protect it.””
I thought of the morning.
“Then why was she cruel to me?””
Rebecca looked at me.
“Because she believed you were going to destroy the evidence.””
“What evidence?””
“The original trust documents.””
I shook my head.
“I didn't have them.””
“She thought Daniel had given them to you.””
Michael frowned.
“Why would she think that?””
“Because Daniel told her.””
I looked at him.
“Daniel knew Chloe had the video?””
Rebecca nodded.
“They've been working together.””
My stomach tightened.
“Against Victor?””
“Yes.””
I didn't know what to believe anymore.
Michael called Daniel.
He answered on the second ring.
“Where are you?””
“Home.””
“Did you know Chloe has the video?””
Silence.
“Dad?””
Daniel finally said:
“Yes.””
I closed my eyes.
Michael put the phone on speaker.
“Why didn't you tell us?””
“I didn't know if I could trust her.””
“You trusted her enough to marry her.””
“That was different.””
“How?””
Daniel didn't answer.
I took the phone.
“Daniel.””
“Yes.””
“Did you know Chloe was Rebecca's daughter?””
Silence.
Then:
“Yes.””
My chest tightened.
“How long?””
“Since before we married.””
I felt betrayed all over again.
“You knew.””
“Yes.””
“You knew she was connected to my family.””
“Yes.””
“You knew she had the video.””
“Yes.””
“Then why did you let her take my seat?””
His voice cracked.
“Because I thought it would make you leave.””
Michael looked at me.
I couldn't believe what I was hearing.
“You wanted me to leave?””
“I wanted you safe.””
“By humiliating me?””
“I didn't know how else to keep you away.””
I hung up.
Michael looked at me.
“Mom…”
I shook my head.
“Not now.””
We drove to Daniel's house.
Chloe was waiting.
She was still wearing the white suit from graduation.
Her makeup was gone.
Her hair was loose.
She looked nothing like the woman who had walked into the hall that morning.
When she saw me, she began crying.
“Emma.””
I stopped at the door.
“You owe me an explanation.””
“I know.””
“You stole my seat.””
“I did.””
“You humiliated me.””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
Chloe looked at Michael.
“Because I needed you angry.””
“Why?””
“Because I needed you to leave the hall.””
I stared at her.
“What were you planning?””
“Nothing.””
“Don't lie.””
She took a shaky breath.
“I knew someone was watching the graduation.””
Michael frowned.
“Who?””
“Victor.””
“Why?””
“Because he knew Michael had found the documents.””
Michael's face hardened.
“How?””
“Someone inside the university told him.””
I felt sick.
“Who?””
“I don't know.””
Chloe walked to a cabinet.
She opened a drawer.
Then she pulled out a small black flash drive.
“This is the copy of the video.””
Michael stared at it.
“The original?””
“Hidden.””
“Where?””
She looked at me.
“In the house your mother left you.””
I swallowed.
“What house?””
Chloe stared.
“The house you haven't seen yet.””
Michael looked confused.
“Mom's house?””
Chloe nodded.
“Your grandmother left it empty for twenty years.””
“Why?””
“To keep the evidence safe.””
I took the flash drive.
“What does the video show?””
Chloe sat down.
“The night Daniel left.””
I waited.
“He came back after midnight.””
My heart pounded.
“Why?””
“To get something.””
“What?””
“A ledger.””
“What ledger?””
“The one proving your father stole millions.””
Michael looked at Chloe.
“And Victor?””
“He followed Daniel.””
“Then what happened?””
Chloe's eyes filled.
“Daniel gave the ledger to someone.””
“Who?””
She looked at me.
“You.””
I shook my head.
“I don't remember.””
“You were asleep.””
“Then how could I have it?””
“Because Daniel hid it in your apartment.””
Michael stared at her.
“Where?””
Chloe hesitated.
“In the nursery.””
My childhood memories came rushing back.
The small room.
Michael's crib.
The old rocking chair.
The loose floorboard.
I looked at Michael.
“There was something under the floor.””
He nodded.
“Mom…”
Chloe whispered:
“The ledger was never recovered.””
Michael stepped toward her.
“Where is it now?””
Chloe's face changed.
“It doesn't matter.””
“Why?””
“Because Victor found out.””
“When?””
“Tonight.””
My heart stopped.
“What?””
Chloe looked toward the window.
“He knows you're going to the house.””
Michael grabbed his keys.
“Then we're going.””
Chloe stood.
“No.””
“Why?””
“Because that's exactly what he wants.””
Michael froze.
Chloe reached into her purse.
She pulled out an old photograph.
It showed our apartment.
The nursery window.
And a man standing outside.
I recognized him.
Victor.
But there was something else.
Someone was standing behind him.
A woman.
Chloe pointed to her.
“That woman is the person who gave Victor the information.””
I stared at the photograph.
I knew that face.
I had seen her that morning.
At the graduation.
Sitting two rows behind Daniel.
I whispered her name.
“Linda.””
Chloe nodded.
“Your boss.””
My heart stopped.
Linda's Diner.
Nineteen years.
Double shifts.
Endless coffee.
And suddenly I wondered whether the woman who had given me a job when I had nothing had known exactly who I was.
Michael stared at me.
“Mom, we need to leave.””
Then the lights in the house went out.
Every window went black.
May you like
Chloe whispered:
“It's too late.””
