Victoria took a long sip of wine and looked him straight in the eye.
— Her real mother discovered something she shouldn’t have about my business dealings. Something that could have ruined everything we built.
— What did she discover?
— That I’d been funneling money from your business accounts for years. Millions of dollars that I invested in my own offshore accounts. Catherine was going to tell you everything.
Michael felt like he couldn’t breathe.
— Catherine. That was her name.
— Catherine Smith. Your personal assistant. Ellie’s mother. Don’t you remember her, Michael? Because I remember everything very well.
Memories began to bombard Michael’s mind like an avalanche. Catherine, his assistant with the brown hair and sweet smile. A night at a conference in Chicago when they’d had too much to drink after closing the biggest deal of his career.
The pregnancy she’d hidden from him until it was almost too late. Her death in a car accident when Ellie was two.
— Victoria, Catherine died in an accident. What are you talking about?
Victoria’s laugh was like breaking glass.
— An accident? Oh, Michael, you were always so naive.
Michael’s world came to a complete stop.
— What are you saying?
— I’m saying Catherine Smith didn’t die in an accident. I’m saying when she found my Swiss accounts and threatened to expose me, I had to take drastic measures.
Michael felt like he was suffocating.
— Victoria, what did you do?
— I did what I had to do to protect our lifestyle, Michael. Catherine was going to ruin everything. She was going to take Ellie and expose all our financial secrets.
— My God, you killed her!
Victoria finished her wine with chilling composure.
— I did what was necessary, and then I took Ellie because I knew eventually she might remember something. Children remember more than people think. So I drugged her to make sure she didn’t. The pills were to keep her silent until I could send her to a boarding school in Switzerland, far away from here, where she could never cause trouble.
But now that she’s started talking, Victoria approached Michael with a smile that made his blood run cold.
— Now that she’s started talking, we need a more permanent solution.
Michael jumped up, every muscle in his body tense.
— You will never get near Ellie again! Never!
— Oh, but Michael, legally I’m her adoptive mother. I have all the paperwork. And you—you’ve been involved in money laundering for years without knowing it. If you go to the police, you’ll go to prison too.
Michael felt the walls closing in. Victoria had planned everything. She’d killed Catherine, adopted Ellie to control her, and implicated him in her crimes.
— Where is Ellie, Michael?
— I’ll never tell you!
Victoria smiled and pulled out her phone.
— I don’t need you to tell me. I hired a private investigator a month ago. I know exactly where she is.
On her phone screen, Michael saw a photo of Ellie and Hope playing in Mary’s small apartment.
— Such a shame, — Victoria said with fake sympathy. — A fire in that part of town. Those old buildings with bad wiring are always such a hazard.
Michael felt his blood freeze. Victoria wasn’t just a killer; she was willing to murder an innocent family to keep her secrets.
— Victoria, please, they’re just children.
— Innocence is a luxury we can’t afford, Michael. Ellie knows too much. And now that other girl does too. I can’t have witnesses.
In that moment, Michael realized he had to act—not just for Ellie, but for Hope and Mary.
Victoria was a monster who had lived in his house for years.
— Fine, — he said, feigning defeat. — You’re right. What do you want me to do?
Victoria smiled triumphantly.
— I want you to go get Ellie. Bring her back here. Give her the pills so she sleeps.
And tomorrow, early in the morning, we’ll take her to the airport. I have a private flight waiting to take her to Switzerland. As for the family holding her, I’ll take care of that tonight. A little domestic accident.
Michael nodded, pretending to agree while his mind worked frantically. He had to save Ellie, Hope, and Mary.
And he had to make sure Victoria paid for her crimes.
— Give me two hours, — he said. — I need to come up with an excuse to get Ellie out of there without raising suspicion.
— One hour, — Victoria replied. — And Michael, if you try anything stupid, remember I have proof of your involvement in the money laundering. I can ruin you with one phone call.
Michael walked out of the house, feeling the weight of the world on his shoulders. But for the first time in days, he had a plan. Victoria had made a mistake. She’d underestimated a father’s love and the power of the truth. The final battle was about to begin…
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