Chapter 11 - BROTHER AND SISTER
Adrian stared at the pistol in Victoria’s hand.
“Put it down.”
Victoria did not move.
“You were supposed to keep Elena away from this room.”
“I am done taking orders from you.”
“You said that last night.”
“Then you helped her find the ledger.”
Elena looked at Adrian.
“You knew where it was?”
Adrian shook his head.
“I knew Grandmother had hidden it inside a book.”
Victoria laughed.
“You see why I never trusted him?”
“He is too weak to finish anything.”
Adrian stepped toward her.
“I helped you because you threatened Elena.”
“You helped me because Hartley Development is collapsing.”
“You needed the estate as collateral.”
Elena understood the bank transfer.
Adrian’s company had taken eight hundred thousand dollars from her account to hide its losses.
“Was any part of our marriage real?”
Adrian looked at her.
“Yes.”
“Do not answer that.”
Victoria waved the gun toward the ledger.
“Bring it to me.”
Elena remained still.
“You already have the amendment.”
“The amendment is useless without a conviction.”
“You were supposed to be arrested last night.”
“But your precious security system ruined everything.”
Elena glanced toward the small camera above the bookshelves.
Its indicator light was dark.
Victoria noticed.
“I disconnected it.”
Elena took one step toward the desk.
Victoria tightened her grip.
“Do not try anything.”
Adrian suddenly moved.
He struck Victoria’s wrist.
The gun fired.
A bullet tore through the ceiling.
Elena grabbed the ledger.
Victoria slammed Adrian against the desk.
The gun fell beneath a chair.
All three reached for it.
Adrian recovered it first.
He pointed it at his sister.
Victoria froze.
“You would not shoot me.”
Adrian’s hand trembled.
“No.”
“But I will hand you to the police.”
Victoria’s expression softened.
“She will never forgive you.”
“That is my punishment.”
Sirens sounded outside.
Elena had activated the silent alarm beneath the desk when she first found the ledger.
Detective Mason entered moments later.
Victoria was arrested for attempted assault, evidence tampering, theft, and conspiracy.
Adrian was also taken into custody for disabling the security system and removing the sealed document.
As officers led Victoria away, she looked at Elena.
“You think the ledger proves your parents were murdered?”
“It proves Charles Hartley paid people.”
Victoria smiled.
“But it does not prove who ordered him to do it.”
She nodded toward the ledger.
“Read the final page.”
May you like
Elena opened the book.
The last page had been torn out.
