Chapter 17 - THE RECORDING
By sunrise, the Ocean Crown had changed course.
Authorities requested the ship return toward the nearest jurisdiction capable of taking custody of Gregory, Martin, and the compromised communications officer.
Nobody was calling this a honeymoon anymore.
I sat beside Celia in the security conference room.
For years, she had imagined Gregory as a monster no one would ever believe existed.
Now every mask had fallen in one night.
“You fought him,” she said.
“I survived him.”
“So did you.”
She looked toward the sea.
“I ran.”
“Running kept you alive.”
Her eyes filled.
“I left Elaine.”
“You were trying to stay alive.”
“That doesn’t make the guilt disappear.”
“No.”
I understood that better than she probably realized.
“Sometimes surviving and feeling good about surviving are two different things.”
Celia looked at me.
Then she smiled faintly.
We were interrupted by Ortiz.
Florida investigators had located my uncle’s office safe.
The executor of his estate authorized access.
Inside was a digital recorder.
The final file had been created nine days before Robert died.
Ortiz played it over an encrypted call.
My uncle’s voice filled the room.
Martin’s voice answered.
They were arguing.
Robert accused Hartman Capital of manipulating bids, buying confidential information, and pressuring independent shareholders.
Martin denied everything.
Then Robert said.
“If anything happens to me, this recording goes to Ashlynn.”
Silence followed.
Martin replied.
“You think your niece can protect you?”
My hands went cold.
Robert answered.
“No.”
“But she’ll finish what I started.”
The recording ended.
I covered my mouth.
My uncle had known.
Maybe not everything.
But enough.
Ortiz continued.
Investigators were reopening questions surrounding Robert’s death.
Dr. Nathan Bell could not immediately be located.
His clinic claimed he had left unexpectedly for a conference.
No conference existed.
Federal agents had already issued alerts at airports.
Then my phone rang.
Unknown number.
Ortiz traced it before I answered.
The call originated in Florida.
I put it on speaker.
Dr. Bell spoke.
“Ashlynn.”
I closed my eyes.
“Where are you?”
“I need protection.”
“From whom?”
“You know from whom.”
“Martin?”
Silence.
“I never meant for Robert to die.”
The room became perfectly still.
“What did you do?”
Bell began crying.
“He was supposed to become ill.”
“Just long enough for Martin to force the board vote.”
“What did you give him?”
“I can’t say this over the phone.”
“You already are.”
“He reacted badly.”
My fingers tightened around the phone.
“And you let everyone call it a heart attack.”
“I panicked.”
“No.”
My voice hardened.
“You covered it up.”
Bell began speaking faster.
“Martin threatened my family.”
“I can prove everything.”
“Then surrender.”
Another silence.
“I will.”
The line disconnected.
Ortiz looked at the trace.
Then her expression changed.
The call had come from a parking garage near Miami International Airport.
Police reached the location eleven minutes later.
Bell’s rental car was there.
The driver’s door was open.
May you like
His phone lay on the pavement.
And Dr. Bell was gone.
