Chapter 16 - The Last Flight
Conrad Hawthorne left the police perimeter eight minutes before Emily’s recording began.
His driver claimed Conrad ordered him to a private airfield.
By the time officers arrived, Conrad’s jet was preparing for departure.
Federal authorities grounded it before takeoff.
But Conrad was not onboard.
He had switched vehicles.
Vanessa sat in the back of Cole’s car, silent.
Claire understood her pain.
Discovering that the person who shaped your entire life was a stranger felt like a kind of death.
Claire had already lived through it.
Julian was transported to a hospital under guard.
Marcus and Stephen Marr were taken into custody.
Richard Hawthorne was found tied inside a service room at the Ashford.
He was injured, but alive.
And furious.
By sunrise, the first news reports appeared.
HAWTHORNE FINANCIAL NETWORK UNDER FEDERAL INVESTIGATION.
DECLARED-DEAD BUSINESSMAN FOUND ALIVE.
HOTEL HEIRESS CONNECTED TO EXPLOSIVE MONEY-LAUNDERING CASE.
Claire saw her own photograph on television.
It was an old wedding photo.
She looked happy.
That version of her felt like another person.
Cole approached.
“We found Conrad’s second vehicle.”
“Where?”
“Near the river.”
“Was he inside?”
“No.”
Vanessa looked up.
Cole continued.
“There was blood in the back seat.”
Claire frowned.
“His?”
“We don’t know yet.”
Richard asked to speak with Vanessa.
She refused.
Then he asked for Claire.
Claire almost refused too.
But curiosity won.
At the hospital, Richard looked smaller without his tailored suits.
One eye was swollen.
Bandages covered his forehead.
He stared at Claire.
“You look exactly like your photograph.”
Claire sat across from him.
“Which photograph?”
“The one Julian carried.”
She felt something she did not want to feel.
“Why did you want me dead?”
Richard looked surprised.
“I didn’t.”
Claire placed the payment document beside him.
Richard studied it.
Then he laughed weakly.
“This wasn’t for your death.”
“It literally says death of Claire Bennett Mercer.”
“Yes.”
“That seems difficult to misunderstand.”
Richard pushed the document back.
“This was an escape payment.”
Claire frowned.
“What?”
“Julian asked me to create another identity for you.”
Claire stopped breathing.
Richard continued.
“He intended to stage your death too.”
“Why?”
“So you could disappear with him.”
Claire felt rage rising.
“He never told me.”
“He changed his mind.”
“Why?”
Richard looked toward the door.
“Because someone convinced him you would never forgive what he had done.”
“Who?”
Richard smiled without humor.
“My brother.”
Claire stared at him.
Then Richard said something worse.
May you like
“Conrad never wanted Julian dead.”
“He wanted Julian desperate.”
