Chapter 16 - The Night Robert Died
The video had been recorded from a dash camera.
The footage was grainy.
The road was dark.
Rain covered the windshield.
But the vehicles were visible.
Robert Carter’s truck appeared ahead.
A second car followed closely behind.
Emily watched without breathing.
Grant stood beside the monitor.
“This camera belonged to Victor Vale.”
Susan held Emily’s hand.
Daniel stood behind them.
The timestamp matched the night Robert died.
For several minutes, nothing happened.
Then Robert’s truck slowed.
Victor’s vehicle slowed too.
Another vehicle appeared from a side road.
It pulled beside Robert’s truck.
The video did not show anyone touching the brakes.
But it showed something investigators had never known.
Robert was being followed.
Then the truck accelerated strangely.
It drifted across the lane.
Robert fought to control it.
Susan began crying.
Emily squeezed her hand.
The truck disappeared around a curve.
Seconds later, distant headlights spun.
The dash camera stopped.
Victor did not drive toward the crash.
He turned around.
Emily stared at the screen.
“He left him there.”
Grant nodded.
“There’s more.”
The audio contained a phone call.
Victor’s voice.
“It’s done.”
Another voice responded.
Female.
Emily looked toward Grant.
He nodded.
“Evelyn.”
The recording continued.
“Are you sure?”
Victor answered.
“He won’t make the meeting tomorrow.”
Susan covered her face.
Emily felt numb.
Daniel’s eyes filled with rage.
“Those monsters.”
Grant stopped the video.
“Prosecutors believe this is enough to reopen Robert’s death as a homicide investigation.”
Emily stared at the black screen.
She had imagined her father’s final moments countless times.
A wet road.
An accident.
Bad luck.
Now she knew he had been hunted.
Susan stood suddenly.
“I need air.”
Emily followed her outside.
Her mother leaned against the wall.
“He told me he was meeting Charles Hawthorne the next morning.”
Emily stayed silent.
“I begged him not to go.”
Susan cried.
“He kissed me and said he was doing it for you.”
Emily’s throat tightened.
“For me?”
“He said he wanted you to grow up knowing your name meant something.”
Susan looked at her daughter.
“He said he could live with losing his job.”
Her voice broke.
“But he couldn’t live with you believing he was dishonest.”
Emily began crying.
Daniel watched from several feet away.
He did not interrupt.
Later, Grant received confirmation.
Evelyn Vale had been charged in connection with Robert’s death.
Victor could never face justice.
He was dead.
But his crimes would be publicly documented.
Then Adrian made his mistake.
He logged into a cryptocurrency account from a rented apartment.
Police traced him.
By dawn, he was arrested.
Adrian refused to answer questions.
But his laptop answered plenty.
It contained the full financial scheme.
Vanessa’s name appeared repeatedly.
Transfers.
Instructions.
Messages.
A spreadsheet labeled HAWTHORNE EXIT.
Daniel opened it.
The plan was simple.
Marry Daniel.
Gain access to family trusts.
Move additional assets.
Then create a scandal that would weaken Daniel’s control of the company.
Emily looked at the final line.
PHASE FOUR: REMOVE CARTER.
Daniel stared at it.
“What does that mean?”
Grant opened an attached note.
His face darkened.
It referred to Emily by name.
May you like
Not because she was a housekeeper.
Because Vanessa knew exactly who her father had been before she ever entered the mansion.
