Chapter 14 - THE RECORDING
The flash drive contained one video file.
The date was thirty-one years old.
The image quality was poor.
The camera appeared to have been hidden inside an office.
Three men were visible.
Gabriel.
Thomas.
Elias Vale.
Mariana watched her father as his younger self argued with Thomas.
Elias stood between them.
“You moved client money without authorization.”
Elias’s voice was clear.
Thomas laughed.
“They’ll never know.”
“I know.”
“Gabriel knows.”
Thomas turned toward Gabriel.
“You’re both becoming sentimental.”
Gabriel replied.
“We’re removing you from the fund.”
Thomas’s expression changed.
“You think you can remove me?”
Elias placed a folder on the table.
“We have records.”
“Transfers.”
“Names.”
“Accounts.”
“We’re going to the authorities tomorrow.”
The video ended seconds later.
Mariana stared at the black screen.
Andrew stood beside her.
“That doesn’t prove what happened to Elias.”
“No.”
“But it proves motive.”
Evelyn opened another folder from the safe.
Inside were travel records.
Thomas flew to Prague two days after the recording.
So did Elias.
Gabriel did not.
Elias never returned.
Andrew sat down heavily.
“My mother kept all this.”
Mariana looked at the shelves.
“Maybe Thomas did.”
“No.”
Andrew held up a notebook.
“This is her handwriting.”
The notebook documented account numbers, travel dates, and payments.
Some entries were coded.
Others were not.
One entry was dated three days after Elias disappeared.
E.V. RESOLVED.
Mariana felt her stomach tighten.
Another line appeared below it.
GABRIEL REMAINS A PROBLEM.
She looked toward her father.
He had just entered the room.
Mariana handed him the notebook.
He read silently.
Then he closed it.
“I knew Thomas was dangerous.”
“You didn’t know Margaret was involved.”
“No.”
Andrew looked shattered.
“My mother wrote this.”
Gabriel studied him.
“You are not responsible for what your parents did.”
Andrew laughed bitterly.
“No.”
“Just what I did.”
His eyes moved toward Mariana.
She said nothing.
He deserved no immediate absolution.
And he finally understood that.
Suddenly Evelyn’s phone rang.
She answered.
Her expression sharpened.
“When?”
She listened.
“Send everything.”
Mariana looked at her.
“What happened?”
Evelyn lowered the phone.
“Margaret contacted federal investigators.”
Andrew stood.
“She turned herself in?”
“Not exactly.”
“What did she do?”
“She offered cooperation.”
Mariana frowned.
“Against Thomas?”
Evelyn shook her head.
“Against you.”
Mariana stared.
“Me?”
Evelyn nodded.
“Margaret claims you orchestrated the financial transfers.”
“She says you used her charity and Andrew’s company to hide your family’s money.”
Andrew stepped forward.
“That’s insane.”
Evelyn looked at Mariana.
“There’s more.”
“What?”
“She has documents carrying your signature.”
Mariana’s eyes narrowed.
“Forged.”
“Probably.”
“But convincing.”
“How convincing?”
Evelyn took a slow breath.
May you like
“Convincing enough that investigators are requesting an interview tomorrow morning.”
*
