Chapter 4: The Price## Chapter 4: The Price of My of My Recovery
“Your father paid someone to make sure you would never be Recovery
“Your father paid someone to make sure you would never be able to run it again.””
Camille's words echoed in able to run it again.””
Camille's words echoed in my head long after she finished speaking.
I looked at the folded paper in her hand.
“Give it to me.””
She hesitated.
“Victor, you need to understand something first.””
“ my head long after she finished speaking.
I looked at the folded paper in her hand.
“Give it to me.””
She hesitated.
“Victor, you need to understand something first.””
“Camille, if you came here to negotiate, leave.””
“I'm not negotiating.””
“Then hand meCamille, if you came here to negotiate, leave.””
“I'm not negotiating.””
“Then hand me the document.””
She placed it on the small table beside the front door.
I opened it carefully.
The page contained a list the document.””
She placed it on the small table beside the front door.
I opened it carefully.
The page contained a list of financial transactions, dates, and initials. Near the bottom was a payment of $85,000 to a company called Northstar Logistics Consulting of financial transactions, dates, and initials. Near the bottom was a payment of $85,000 to a company called Northstar Logistics Consulting.
The payment had been authorized by Bennett Urban Holdings.
Beside it were two handwritten initials.
R.L.
The payment had been authorized by Bennett Urban Holdings.
Beside it were two handwritten initials.
R.L.
And D.M.
Richard Lawson.
Daniel Mercer.
Below the initials was a reference to a vehicle identification number.
I recognized.
And D.M.
Richard Lawson.
Daniel Mercer.
Below the initials was a reference to a vehicle identification number.
I recognized the number from the police report concerning my accident.
My fingers tightened around the page.
“Where did the number from the police report concerning my accident.
My fingers tightened around the page.
“Where did you get this?””
“My father's study. I went there this afternoon to confront him about the forged you get this?””
“My father's study. I went there this afternoon to confront him about the forged documents. He left his desk unlocked.””
“And you took this without asking him?””
“Yes documents. He left his desk unlocked.””
“And you took this without asking him?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“Because I found another page.””
She reached into her handbag and produced a second sheet.
This one was.””
“Why?””
“Because I found another page.””
She reached into her handbag and produced a second sheet.
This one was an email printed on ordinary office paper.
The sender was Daniel.
The recipient was Richard.
The subject line an email printed on ordinary office paper.
The sender was Daniel.
The recipient was Richard.
The subject line read: Hale Situation.
I began reading.
Daniel had written that my injuries created an opportunity to accelerate the acquisition of read: Hale Situation.
I began reading.
Daniel had written that my injuries created an opportunity to accelerate the acquisition of my company. He described the temporary transfer of financial authority as a necessary measure to protect the business during my my company. He described the temporary transfer of financial authority as a necessary measure to protect the business during my recovery.
But one sentence stood out.
*The driver has already been contacted. There should be no complications connecting the incident to us recovery.
But one sentence stood out.
The driver has already been contacted. There should be no complications connecting the incident to us.
I read it again.
Then I looked at Camille.
“Did you know about this before tonight?””
She shook her.*
I read it again.
Then I looked at Camille.
“Did you know about this before tonight?””
She shook her head violently.
“No. I swear to you.””
“You expect me to believe that?””
“I expect you to investigate head violently.
“No. I swear to you.””
“You expect me to believe that?””
“I expect you to investigate it.””
For once, she didn't look offended by my suspicion.
She looked frightened.
I called Margaret.
She answered immediately.
“Victor?””
“Camille is here. She's brought documents connecting Daniel and Richard to the driver involved in my accident.””
“Don't discuss the contents any further. Preserve the originals and send me photographs only if you can do so without compromising them. I'll arrange for an investigator to collect everything.””
“Understood.””
“And Victor, it.””
For once, she didn't look offended by my suspicion.
She looked frightened.
I called Margaret.
She answered immediately.
“Victor?””
“Camille is here. She's brought documents connecting Daniel and Richard to the driver involved in my accident.””
“Don't discuss the contents any further. Preserve the originals and send me photographs only if you can do so without compromising them. I'll arrange for an investigator to collect everything.””
“Understood.””
“And Victor, is Camille alone?””
I looked at my wife.
“Yes.””
“Keep the conversation calm. I'll be there as soon as I can.””
I is Camille alone?””
I looked at my wife.
“Yes.””
“Keep the conversation calm. I'll be there as soon as I can.””
I ended the call.
Camille stood with her hands clasped in front of her.
“I'm not asking you to forgive me,” she said.
“I know I don't deserve that.””
“Then what are you asking for ended the call.
Camille stood with her hands clasped in front of her.
“I'm not asking you to forgive me,” she said.
“I know I don't deserve that.””
“Then what are you asking for?””
“A chance to tell you everything.””
I looked at the woman who had spent eighteen months treating my?””
“A chance to tell you everything.””
I looked at the woman who had spent eighteen months treating my disability as a personal inconvenience.
“Start with the money.””
She nodded slowly.
“Richard approached me about six disability as a personal inconvenience.
“Start with the money.””
She nodded slowly.
“Richard approached me about six months after your accident. He said my father was worried about the future of your company. He told me there months after your accident.
He said my father was worried about the future of your company. He told me there were investors willing to help, but that you would need to sign some temporary management documents.””
“Did you believe him?””
“At first, yes.””
were investors willing to help, but that you would need to sign some temporary management documents.””
“Did you believe him?””
“At first, yes.””
“And the payments?””
She looked down.
“He said they were consulting fees. He told me I could keep the money because I was helping arrange meetings“And the payments?””
She looked down.
“He said they were consulting fees. He told me I could keep the money because I was helping arrange meetings and introducing him to people in your industry.””
“Four hundred thousand dollars for introductions?””
“I knew it and introducing him to people in your industry.””
“Four hundred thousand dollars for introductions?””
“I knew it was too much.””
“Yet you accepted it.””
“Yes.””
Her answer was barely audible.
I walked was too much.””
“Yet you accepted it.””
“Yes.””
Her answer was barely audible.
I walked into the living room and gestured toward the sofa.
“Sit down.””
She followed me.
For a few into the living room and gestured toward the sofa.
“Sit down.””
She followed me.
For a few seconds, neither of us spoke.
Then I asked the question that had been burning inside me since the night I'd seconds, neither of us spoke.
Then I asked the question that had been burning inside me since the night I'd discovered the payments.
“Did you ever intend to leave me?””
Camille looked up.
“Yes.””
The honesty hurt discovered the payments.
“Did you ever intend to leave me?””
Camille looked up.
“Yes.””
The honesty hurt more than a lie would have.
“When?””
“Before the anniversary dinner. I had spoken to a divorce attorney more than a lie would have.
“When?””
“Before the anniversary dinner. I had spoken to a divorce attorney.””
I nodded slowly.
“And what stopped you?””
She pressed her fingers against her forehead.
“Money..””
I nodded slowly.
“And what stopped you?””
She pressed her fingers against her forehead.
“Money. Fear. My father kept telling me that if I left you before the company transfer was complete, I'd lose everything.
He said you would Fear. My father kept telling me that if I left you before the company transfer was complete, I'd lose everything. He said you would fight me for the house and that I would end up with nothing.””
“So you decided to take the company instead fight me for the house and that I would end up with nothing.””
“So you decided to take the company instead.””
“I told myself I was protecting my future.””
“From your own husband?””
She began to cry.
“I was.””
“I told myself I was protecting my future.””
“From your own husband?””
She began to cry.
“I was selfish.””
I stared at her.
“That's not the word I'd use.””
She wiped her cheeks.
“I selfish.””
I stared at her.
“That's not the word I'd use.””
She wiped her cheeks.
“I know.””
I leaned forward.
“Did you ever love me, Camille?””
She opened her mouth, but no answer came.
After know.””
I leaned forward.
“Did you ever love me, Camille?””
She opened her mouth, but no answer came.
After several seconds, she whispered, “Yes.””
“When?””
Her face crumpled.
“I loved you when we met. I loved you when you built several seconds, she whispered, “Yes.””
“When?””
Her face crumpled.
“I loved you when we met. I loved you when you built your company. I loved you when we bought the house.””
“And after the accident?””
She stared your company. I loved you when we bought the house.””
“And after the accident?””
She stared at the carpet.
“I don't know when it changed.””
I almost told her that love didn't simply disappear because someone's at the carpet.
“I don't know when it changed.””
I almost told her that love didn't simply disappear because someone's legs stopped working.
But I stopped myself.
I wasn't interested in teaching her how to love me.
I wanted to know whether she legs stopped working.
But I stopped myself.
I wasn't interested in teaching her how to love me.
I wanted to know whether she had helped arrange the accident.
“Did you know Richard was paying someone connected to the truck had helped arrange the accident.
“Did you know Richard was paying someone connected to the truck?””
“No.””
“Did your father tell you?””
“No.””
“Did Daniel?””
She shook her head.
Then she looked up at me.
“But?””
“No.””
“Did your father tell you?””
“No.””
“Did Daniel?””
She shook her head.
Then she looked up at me.
“But I heard them arguing about it once.””
My heart began pounding.
“When?””
“About three weeks after your accident. I heard them arguing about it once.””
My heart began pounding.
“When?””
“About three weeks after your accident. I was at my father's house. Daniel was there with Richard. They thought I was upstairs.””
“What did they say?””
“I couldn't hear everything. Richard I was at my father's house. Daniel was there with Richard. They thought I was upstairs.””
“What did they say?””
“I couldn't hear everything. Richard said the driver had been paid to follow a particular route. Daniel told him that the police had already taken the driver's statement said the driver had been paid to follow a particular route. Daniel told him that the police had already taken the driver's statement.””
I stood abruptly.
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“Because I thought they were discussing the financial investigation. I didn't understand what it.””
I stood abruptly.
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“Because I thought they were discussing the financial investigation. I didn't understand what it meant until I found the documents today.””
“Did you ask your father?””
“Yes.””
“And?””
“He told meant until I found the documents today.””
“Did you ask your father?””
“Yes.””
“And?””
“He told me to forget what I'd heard.””
I walked to the window.
Outside, headlights swept across the driveway as me to forget what I'd heard.””
I walked to the window.
Outside, headlights swept across the driveway as a car passed on the road.
For eighteen months, I'd blamed the accident for everything that had happened to me. I'd a car passed on the road.
For eighteen months, I'd blamed the accident for everything that had happened to me. I'd blamed the truck driver. I'd blamed the doctors who couldn't promise a full recovery.
I'd blamed the truck driver. I'd blamed the doctors who couldn't promise a full recovery. I'd even blamed myself for working too late that night.
Now I had to consider the possibility that someone had deliberately targeted me.
But I wasn't going even blamed myself for working too late that night.
Now I had to consider the possibility that someone had deliberately targeted me.
But I wasn't going to make that accusation without proof.
I turned back toward Camille.
“You're going to give everything you found to Margaret. You'll to make that accusation without proof.
I turned back toward Camille.
“You're going to give everything you found to Margaret. You'll answer every question she asks. And if the documents show that you knew more than you've admitted, you won't be protected answer every question she asks. And if the documents show that you knew more than you've admitted, you won't be protected from the consequences.””
“I understand.””
“Do you?””
She nodded.
“I do.””
The doorbell rang.
Margaret had from the consequences.””
“I understand.””
“Do you?””
She nodded.
“I do.””
The doorbell rang.
Margaret had arrived with Frank Dwyer and two investigators assigned to review the suspected financial fraud.
They photographed the documents, recorded how Camille arrived with Frank Dwyer and two investigators assigned to review the suspected financial fraud.
They photographed the documents, recorded how Camille had obtained them, and asked her to provide a detailed statement.
One of the investigators, Detective Alvarez, studied the email from Daniel.
“This had obtained them, and asked her to provide a detailed statement.
One of the investigators, Detective Alvarez, studied the email from Daniel.
“This is potentially significant,” she said.
“But we need to establish whether the payment was connected to the accident and is potentially significant,” she said.
“But we need to establish whether the payment was connected to the accident and whether the message is authentic.””
“Can you investigate the driver?”” I asked.
“We can reopen questions that weren't whether the message is authentic.””
“Can you investigate the driver?”” I asked.
“We can reopen questions that weren't addressed in the original investigation if the evidence supports it.””
Camille sat rigidly on addressed in the original investigation if the evidence supports it.””
Camille sat rigidly on the sofa while Detective Alvarez asked her about the conversations she'd overheard.
When the interview ended, Margaret took me into the kitchen.
“We the sofa while Detective Alvarez asked her about the conversations she'd overheard.
When the interview ended, Margaret took me into the kitchen.
“We need to talk about the fact that your wife is now a witness.””
“She is also a suspect in the financial scheme.””
“Correct. Her cooperation doesn't erase need to talk about the fact that your wife is now a witness.””
“She is also a suspect in the financial scheme.””
“Correct. Her cooperation doesn't erase her actions.””
“I know.””
Margaret lowered her voice.
“If she's telling the truth about the accident, the implications are serious. But we cannot assume the documents prove an attempted murder.””
“I her actions.””
“I know.””
Margaret lowered her voice.
“If she's telling the truth about the accident, the implications are serious. But we cannot assume the documents prove an attempted murder.””
“I wouldn't want you to.””
She studied me.
“Are you certain?””
I thought about the truck, the hospital wouldn't want you to.””
She studied me.
“Are you certain?””
I thought about the truck, the hospital, the pain, and the months when I couldn't stand without assistance.
Then I thought about the person who had sent me that photograph, the pain, and the months when I couldn't stand without assistance.
Then I thought about the person who had sent me that photograph with the threat.
“I want the truth,” I said.
“Whatever it is.””
Margaret nodded.
“That's what we'll pursue.””
Cam with the threat.
“I want the truth,” I said.
“Whatever it is.””
Margaret nodded.
“That's what we'll pursue.””
Camille was preparing to leave when she stopped beside me.
“Victor, there's one more thing.””
I closed my eyes briefly.
ille was preparing to leave when she stopped beside me.
“Victor, there's one more thing.””
I closed my eyes briefly.
“What now?””
She swallowed.
“My father called me after I left his house. He told me that if I gave“What now?””
She swallowed.
“My father called me after I left his house. He told me that if I gave you those documents, he would make sure I never received another dollar from the family trust.””
I stared at her you those documents, he would make sure I never received another dollar from the family trust.””
I stared at her.
“Is that why you came here? Because he threatened your money?””
“No.””
“Then.
“Is that why you came here? Because he threatened your money?””
“No.””
“Then why?””
She looked at the floor.
“Because when I saw you stand up at dinner, I realized something.””
“What?””
“You why?””
She looked at the floor.
“Because when I saw you stand up at dinner, I realized something.””
“What?””
“You weren't the person I'd convinced myself you were.””
I said nothing.
She continued.
“I told weren't the person I'd convinced myself you were.””
I said nothing.
She continued.
“I told myself you were weak. I told myself you needed me so badly that you would never leave. I used your condition to justify things I knew myself you were weak.
I told myself you needed me so badly that you would never leave. I used your condition to justify things I knew were wrong.””
Her voice cracked.
“And when you stood up, I realized that you had been strong enough to survive everything I did to were wrong.””
Her voice cracked.
“And when you stood up, I realized that you had been strong enough to survive everything I did to you.””
I felt no urge to comfort her.
“You're confusing strength with forgiveness.””
“I know.””
“I'm you.””
I felt no urge to comfort her.
“You're confusing strength with forgiveness.””
“I know.””
“I'm not going to take you back, Camille.””
She nodded, tears sliding down her cheeks.
“I understand not going to take you back, Camille.””
She nodded, tears sliding down her cheeks.
“I understand.””
She reached for the door, then stopped one final time.
“My father is going to try to destroy the evidence.””
.””
She reached for the door, then stopped one final time.
“My father is going to try to destroy the evidence.””
Detective Alvarez looked up.
“Why do you believe that?””
Camille turned toward her.
“Because I heard him tell Richard that the only way to survive thisDetective Alvarez looked up.
“Why do you believe that?””
Camille turned toward her.
“Because I heard him tell Richard that the only way to survive this was to make sure Daniel took the blame.””
The detective exchanged a glance with Frank.
Then her was to make sure Daniel took the blame.””
The detective exchanged a glance with Frank.
Then her phone rang.
She listened for several seconds, her expression growing increasingly serious.
When she hung up, she looked directly at me.
“Mr. Hale, we have a problem.””
“What phone rang.
She listened for several seconds, her expression growing increasingly serious.
When she hung up, she looked directly at me.
“Mr. Hale, we have a problem.””
“What happened?””
“The bank has confirmed that someone attempted to release the $2.4 happened?””
“The bank has confirmed that someone attempted to release the $2.4 million transfer.””
I felt the room tighten around me.
“Was it successful?””
“Not yet.””
She paused.
“But the person who submitted the release wasn't Daniel Mercer.””
“ million transfer.””
I felt the room tighten around me.
“Was it successful?””
“Not yet.””
She paused.
“But the person who submitted the release wasn't Daniel Mercer.””
“Who was it?””
Detective Alvarez turned the laptop toward me.
On the screen was a digital authorization bearingWho was it?””
Detective Alvarez turned the laptop toward me.
On the screen was a digital authorization bearing my name.
Below it was a timestamp from nine minutes earlier.
And beside the authorization was a security-camera photograph of the person who had entered the my name.
Below it was a timestamp from nine minutes earlier.
And beside the authorization was a security-camera photograph of the person who had entered the bank's private processing office.
It was Richard Lawson.
But Richard wasn't alone.
Standing beside him, holding a folder and smiling toward the camera, was my wife.
Camille stared at the image.
Then bank's private processing office.
It was Richard Lawson.
But Richard wasn't alone.
Standing beside him, holding a folder and smiling toward the camera, was my wife.
Camille stared at the image.
Then she whispered, “That's impossible.””
Because the photograph had been taken at 8:51 p.m.
And Camille had been sitting in my living room since 7:42 she whispered, “That's impossible.””
Because the photograph had been taken at 8:51 p.m.
And Camille had been sitting in my living room since 7:42.
Someone else was using her identity.
Someone who wanted us to believe she was still part.
Someone else was using her identity.
May you like
Someone who wanted us to believe she was still part of the conspiracy.
And that meant the real betrayal had only just begun.
