Chapter 8 - VICTOR TURNED ON ANDREW
Victor requested another interview.
His attorney hated the idea.
Victor insisted.
People like Victor always believe they can talk their way out.
He sat across from Reed and the prosecutor.
“I didn’t hit Elena.”
“Who did?”
“Andrew.”
First direct accusation.
“He came over angry.”
“Why?”
“Elena threatened to report him.”
“What about you?”
“I wanted a divorce.”
I almost laughed watching from the other room.
Victor continued.
“Andrew had stolen money.”
“You signed transfers.”
“I trusted him.”
“Your signature appears on false invoices.”
“He brought them to me.”
“You benefited financially.”
“I didn’t understand where the money came from.”
The innocent billionaire.
A classic.
Then Victor described the study.
Elena confronted both men.
Andrew grabbed the bronze horse.
Victor tried to stop him.
Andrew struck Elena.
She fell.
Then, according to Victor, Elena got back up.
She tried to reach the hallway.
Andrew followed.
Victor claimed he went to call emergency services.
When he returned, Elena was at the bottom of the stairs.
Andrew stood above her.
A complete transfer of guilt.
Reed asked,
“Why did you wait almost three hours to call 911?”
Victor’s face tightened.
“Andrew threatened me.”
“With what?”
“Our financial crimes.”
“You let your wife die because you were afraid of prison?”
“I thought she was already dead.”
The medical examiner disagreed.
Elena likely survived for a significant period.
Maybe an hour.
Possibly longer.
Prompt treatment might have changed the outcome.
Victor knew.
He had checked her pulse.
His fingerprints were later identified on her wrist and neck.
He knew she was alive.
Yet called cleaners.
Victor’s attorney ended the interview.
But the damage was done.
He had placed Andrew in the study.
Placed the bronze horse in the crime.
Admitted being present.
Admitted failing to call for help.
Andrew responded through his lawyer.
If Victor wanted war—
he would get it.
Andrew turned over a private recording.
Victor speaking at 2:03 a.m.
The night Elena died.
Victor:
“Clean the study first.”
Andrew:
“We call somebody now.”
Victor:
“And tell them what?”
Andrew:
“That she fell.”
Victor:
“They’ll test everything.”
Andrew:
“She’s breathing.”
Victor:
“I know.”
My stomach twisted.
Victor:
“If she wakes up, we’re finished.”
Silence.
Then Andrew said,
“I’m not doing this.”
Victor:
“You already did.”
That recording changed the murder investigation.
Victor knew Elena was alive.
Victor prioritized concealment over treatment.
But then came the twist.
At 2:08, Andrew said:
“You hit her too.”
Victor:
“After what you did.”
Andrew:
“I barely touched her.”
Victor:
“You shoved her down the stairs.”
Andrew:
“No.”
Then the recording ended.
Both men had participated.
The exact sequence remained uncertain.
Prosecutors did not need a theatrical single-villain version.
If both men assaulted Elena and jointly prevented aid while covering the scene, both could face devastating consequences.
Andrew wanted immunity.
Denied.
He offered cooperation.
Prosecutors offered only that truthful assistance would be considered.
He took it.
His testimony revealed the financial conspiracy.
Victor and Andrew had stolen $12.4 million.
Victor used some to cover failing property deals.
Andrew hid the rest offshore.
Elena discovered it.
Then Victor increased her insurance.
Andrew claimed he warned him not to.
“Did you know Victor was considering harming Elena?”
Andrew looked at the prosecutor.
“Yes.”
My hands tightened.
“When?”
“After Sophie died.”
“What did Victor say?”
Andrew swallowed.
“He said the fall had solved one problem.”
The room went cold.
“What problem?”
“The baby.”
I closed my eyes.
Victor had resented Sophie too.
Why?
Because Elena had changed her estate plan.
Once Sophie was born, Elena intended her personal trust holdings to pass primarily to her daughter.
Victor would control less.
A baby had become financial competition.
Sophie’s death benefited him.
Elena’s death benefited him even more.
Twenty-five million dollars.
Foundation access.
Marital assets.
Silence.
Now the case had motive layered upon motive.
But Andrew was still lying about something.
I could feel it.
Elena had warned me.
Victor gets angry.
May you like
Andrew gets quiet.
Quiet is worse.
