Chapter 16 - Marina’s Confession
Marina was moved from the hospital to a secure detention unit after Gage identified her as the person who had given him access codes. She requested one final interview with Andreas and Elena.
“She doesn’t get to set the terms,” Rowan warned.
“No,” Elena wrote. “I do.”
They met in a room with a glass wall. Marina sat with her hands cuffed, her bruises fading yellow. She looked at Elena for a long time.
“You always were stronger than me,” Marina said.
Elena pointed to the letter board.
Marina read the letters as Elena spelled them.
W H Y.
“Because I was afraid,” Marina said.
Elena shook her head.
“That answer doesn’t satisfy you.”
Elena spelled again.
W H Y H U R T.
Marina's mouth trembled. “Because she wouldn’t tell me where Mara had gone. I believed Holt had her. I believed your silence meant you had hidden her. I thought if I frightened you, you would reveal the place.”
“You knew Elena had aphasia,” Andreas said.
“I knew exactly what she could understand.”
“You exploited it.”
“Yes.”
“You could have asked for help.”
“I did. Holt said help was another word for betrayal.”
“So you became him.”
Marina lowered her head.
She explained the money. Victor had used Harbor Light to conceal theft from injured workers. Marina entered the false payments and received a percentage. When Mara found the records, Marina locked her in the shed. When Daniel Ruiz tried to intervene, Holt sent Denton.
“You watched them take Daniel,” Rowan said.
“I thought he would live.”
“You let him die.”
“Yes.”
“You lied about Mara.”
“Yes.”
“You helped Holt kill Victor.”
Marina's gaze went to Elena. “I delayed the call. I thought Holt would spare Mara. He had already found her, but he didn’t tell me.”
“Where is Mara?” Andreas asked.
“I never knew her location. I knew she was alive because she sent Elena the photographs.”
“Why did you keep searching?”
“Because the last photograph showed her with a child. I knew Holt would use the child against her.”
Mara, waiting in the hall with Iris, heard this and entered. “You never protected me.”
Marina looked at her daughter. “No.”
The answer landed harder than an excuse.
“I protected myself,” Marina continued. “Sometimes I told myself that was the only way to protect you. It wasn’t. I hurt you and called it love.”
Mara's eyes filled. “You left me in that shed.”
“I know.”
“You told Isaac I was dead.”
“I know.”
“You hurt Elena.”
Marina looked at the wheelchair. “I know.”
Elena spelled one final word.
T E L L.
Marina understood. “Miles Venn has the original mortgage file. Holt keeps the archive key in a red toolbox at the old rail depot. The file proves they forged Elena’s name. The toolbox also holds the missing recording.”
Rowan stood. “Why should we believe you?”
Marina met her eyes. “Because Holt already decided I’m disposable.”
The building alarm sounded.
Every light in the corridor turned red.
On the glass wall, a message appeared in black paint.
NO MORE WITNESSES.
May you like
By the time the guards reached the room, Marina had been stabbed through the shoulder.
Her blood ran toward the letter board, stopping beneath the word TELL.
