Chapter 10 - The Lie Jessica Told
Rafael raised the gun. Oliver's body moved before his mind did. He pulled Jessica behind a parked truck as the first shot shattered a windshield.
Chloe emerged from the stairwell and threw a metal flashlight. It struck Rafael's wrist. He fired again, then disappeared through the exit before Elena's security team reached the garage.
The recorder remained beneath the abandoned car.
Oliver crawled under the chassis, retrieved it, and found the casing cracked but intact.
Jessica shook so violently she could barely stand. “He was supposed to scare you.”
“Who?”
“Rafael.”
Elena stared at her. “You hired him?”
“No. Voss did. But I told Rafael where Mark kept the recorder.”
“You led him here.”
Jessica's eyes filled. “I thought he would take it and leave. I thought if I cooperated, he would stop threatening me.”
Oliver felt anger rise, clean and familiar. “You used me again.”
“I am sorry.”
“Sorry is not a shield.”
“I know.”
They listened to the recording in Elena's office. Mark's voice trembled beneath the hum of an engine.
“Voss told Rafael to make the Parker problem permanent. He said Sebastian had approved it. He said Elena could not be allowed to see the original accounts.”
Voss's voice answered. “Sebastian wants the company. You want your brother's debt gone. Everyone gets what they deserve.”
Then Sebastian spoke.
“And Peter Parker?”
“Already handled,” Voss said.
The recording ended.
Elena sat motionless. “My brother knew.”
Chloe's voice was quiet. “He may have known about Peter. We don't know if he ordered it.”
“He approved Rafael.”
“That is enough for the police to investigate,” Oliver said.
Elena looked at him. “If I give them this, the company collapses.”
“Maybe it should.”
Her expression hardened. “You think I don't understand consequences?”
“I think you understand them and keep choosing the ones other people pay.”
The words struck deeper than he intended.
Elena stood. “You should leave.”
“I agree.”
He packed the few things he had left in the guest room. At the door, Elena stopped him.
“I did not know about Peter.”
“I believe you.”
“I did not know Sebastian was involved.”
“I believe that too.”
“But you don't believe I can change.”
Oliver looked at her. “I don't know if you want to.”
He walked out.
That night, Grace came to his apartment with Maribel. She carried the old watch and a letter Oliver had never seen.
“This was hidden inside the lining,” Grace said. “I found it after you left.”
The letter was from Peter.
Oliver unfolded it with shaking hands.
My son, if you ever read this, it means the truth has found you before I could. Do not trust the person who offers safety without freedom.
At the bottom, beneath Peter's signature, one final line had been added in another hand.
THE ORIGINAL ACCOUNT IS UNDER THE CHILD'S NAME.
Grace looked at Oliver.
May you like
“Which child?” he asked.
Before she could answer, the lights in the apartment went out.
