Chapter 10 - The Confession Tape
Owen was taken into custody at the hospital.
His information gave Detective Ruiz enough evidence to obtain broader warrants.
Police seized the Blackridge files, computers, and surveillance recordings.
Gabriel remained missing.
Forensic specialists searched the abandoned rail tunnels but found only discarded clothing and blood from a minor injury.
Arthur returned to the estate before dawn.
He had not slept for more than an hour in two days.
Clara found him in the music room, sitting before the piano Evelyn had once played every evening.
“You should not be alone,” she said.
“I have spent two years alone in rooms full of people.”
Clara sat several feet away.
Arthur touched one piano key.
The sound echoed softly.
“Evelyn asked me to come home early the night before she died.”
“What did you tell her?”
“That I had a meeting.”
His voice was hollow.
“The meeting was with Gabriel.”
“He wanted me to approve a merger.”
“While she was trying to warn me about him.”
“You did not know.”
“I should have known.”
Clara’s tone sharpened.
“Guilt is not the same as responsibility.”
Arthur looked at her.
“You sound certain.”
“Because I spent years blaming myself for not stopping my stepfather.”
“I was fourteen.”
“I thought if I had spoken louder, my mother would have left him.”
“She did not.”
“That was her choice, not my failure.”
Arthur looked toward Evelyn’s portrait.
“Why did she trust you?”
Clara smiled faintly.
“Because I once told her the truth when everyone else lied.”
“About what?”
“She asked whether she looked tired at a charity dinner.”
“I said she looked exhausted and should go home.”
Arthur laughed despite himself.
“That sounds like Evelyn.”
“She said it was the first honest answer she had received all evening.”
The moment of warmth ended when Detective Ruiz entered carrying a sealed evidence case.
“We recovered a recording from Eleanor’s surveillance folder.”
Arthur stood.
“Her confession?”
“Possibly.”
Ruiz placed a digital recorder on the table.
“The file is dated two weeks after Evelyn’s death.”
She pressed play.
Gabriel’s voice emerged first.
“You need to stop calling me.”
Then Eleanor.
“You killed her.”
Arthur gripped the edge of the table.
Gabriel replied.
“You ordered Victor to sabotage the car.”
“I ordered him to frighten her.”
“You told us she could not be allowed to reach the board.”
“I did not tell you to cut the line completely.”
“You benefited from it.”
There was a long silence.
Then Eleanor spoke again.
“We all did.”
Gabriel laughed.
“Arthur inherited her shares.”
“You kept control of the foundation.”
“Victor buried the report.”
“And I protected all of you.”
“You protected yourself.”
The recording continued.
Eleanor’s voice became colder.
“If this is ever discovered, you acted alone.”
“You created the plan.”
“Then perhaps we should make sure Arthur never discovers it.”
The file ended.
Arthur stared at the recorder.
Ruiz spoke carefully.
“This proves conspiracy and obstruction.”
“It may also support felony murder charges depending on the prosecutor’s interpretation.”
Clara looked toward the door.
“Eleanor needs protection.”
Arthur’s face hardened.
“She has police protection.”
“Gabriel has the original recording.”
“If he releases it, he destroys himself too,” Ruiz said.
“Unless he intends to edit it.”
Arthur understood.
“He can make it sound as though Eleanor ordered the murder.”
Ruiz nodded.
“Then offer the original in exchange for immunity.”
“He would sacrifice her.”
Clara stood.
“Where is she?”
“At St. Matthew’s Hospital.”
Ruiz called the officer guarding Eleanor.
No answer.
She called again.
A nurse picked up.
Detective Ruiz’s expression changed.
“What do you mean she was discharged?”
Arthur moved closer.
“Who authorized it?”
Ruiz listened.
“No, do not touch anything.”
She ended the call.
“Eleanor left twenty minutes ago.”
“With whom?”
“A man claiming to be the family attorney.”
“Victor is in custody.”
“The man used Victor’s identification.”
Gabriel.
Arthur called his mother.
Her phone went directly to voicemail.
Then his own phone received a video message.
Eleanor sat in the passenger seat of a moving vehicle.
A bruise darkened her temple.
Gabriel’s voice came from behind the camera.
“Bring the memory card and the original confession file to the Vance Foundation gala tomorrow night.”
“No police.”
“No tricks.”
“Or your mother tells the world exactly what this family has done.”
Eleanor looked directly into the camera.
Her fear seemed genuine.
Then she spoke.
“Do not bring him anything, Arthur.”
Gabriel struck her.
The image ended.
Clara stared at the black screen.
“He is using the gala because the press will be there.”
Arthur nodded.
“He wants a public stage.”
Ruiz reached for the phone.
“He also wants leverage.”
Arthur looked toward Evelyn’s photograph.
For years, Eleanor had protected the Vance name at any cost.
Now Gabriel planned to destroy that name unless Arthur surrendered the evidence.
Arthur made his decision.
“We will attend the gala.”
May you like
Ruiz studied him.
“And we will let Gabriel believe he has won.”
