Chapter 12 - THE PRICE OF SILENCE
Brooke began shaking.
Not dramatically.
Not visibly enough that a stranger would notice.
But Dominic noticed.
He knew her too well.
“What did you tell Elliot?”
She said nothing.
Dominic stepped closer.
“What did you tell him?”
Brooke looked toward Samuel.
“I want an attorney.”
Samuel nodded.
“That would be wise.”
Brooke glared at him.
Dominic’s voice remained calm.
“You can stop talking.”
“But understand something.”
“This house is no longer protecting you.”
Brooke stared at him.
“You think I need protection from you?”
“No.”
“From whoever helped you.”
That struck something.
Fear flashed across her face.
Dominic saw it.
“So there is someone else.”
Brooke looked away.
Victor entered with two investigators from the Rhode Island State Police.
Dominic had contacted them after the vehicle device was discovered.
Brooke immediately stopped speaking.
Natalie watched as they escorted her from the library.
Brooke paused beside Dominic.
“For three years, I kept things away from you.”
He looked at her.
“What things?”
“You think Natalie is the innocent one.”
Natalie stiffened.
Brooke smiled bitterly.
“Ask her what Michael planned to do with the trust.”
Then she walked away.
Natalie stared after her.
Dominic turned.
“What was she talking about?”
“I have no idea.”
But Natalie sounded uncertain.
Dominic noticed.
She looked toward Michael’s USB.
“There might be another folder.”
They searched.
Hidden beneath a misleading file name was a document labeled NATALIE.
She opened it.
Michael had written a letter.
Nat,
If I fail to resolve this, you need to know I planned to petition the court to restructure Noah’s trust.
Not to take it from you.
To protect it.
I discovered someone has already attempted unauthorized withdrawals.
I believe Brooke is involved, but I cannot prove whether Dominic knows.
Until I do, say nothing.
If anything happens to me, trust Dominic.
Not the people around him.
Natalie began crying quietly.
Dominic put one arm around her.
“He trusted you.”
She whispered.
“He thought maybe you knew.”
Dominic looked away.
“That’s why he was investigating me.”
Natalie nodded.
“He was afraid to accuse Brooke without knowing how deep it went.”
Victor returned again.
This time he held a printed bank statement.
“We traced Harrington Coastal’s payments to Elliot.”
Dominic looked up.
“How much?”
“Four hundred thousand dollars over eleven months.”
Natalie went pale.
Victor continued.
“Most payments occurred after Michael’s death.”
Dominic frowned.
“After?”
Victor nodded.
“Which means they may not have been paying him to commit something.”
“They may have been paying him to stay quiet.”
Dominic looked toward the rain outside.
“Find Elliot.”
Victor’s expression darkened.
“We already have a lead.”
“Where?”
“Canada.”
“He crossed the border yesterday using his real passport.”
Dominic’s face tightened.
“Why yesterday?”
Victor looked toward the hallway where Brooke had disappeared.
May you like
“Because someone warned him you were coming home.”
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