Chapter 5 - WHAT MARGARET HID
Margaret closed the drawing-room door.
“Elliot, leave.”
“No,” Julian said. “Nobody leaves until we hear the truth.”
Margaret's face tightened. “You don't understand.”
“Then explain.”
She looked at Elena. “Your father came to me after the crash. He said the brakes had been tampered with and that Victor was involved. But he also told me someone in the family had authorized the work.”
“Who?” Elena asked.
Margaret looked down.
“Me.”
Julian went still.
“What?”
“I signed the vehicle transfer form. Victor told me the SUV needed to be moved to another garage. I didn't know the brake line would be altered.”
“You signed it?”
“I thought I was authorizing routine maintenance.”
Elliot gave a quiet laugh. “There it is.”
Margaret turned on him. “You knew what Victor was doing.”
“I knew he wanted Julian out of the way.”
Julian's face drained of color. “Why?”
Elliot shrugged. “The company was failing. You were going to sell the division that made us rich. Victor and I had investors ready to take control.”
“You tried to kill me for a business deal?”
“I didn't expect you to survive.”
The words hung in the room.
Elena stepped closer to Julian. He didn't move.
“Did you know my father was trying to stop it?” she asked.
Elliot glanced at her. “He found the wrong report.”
“He was threatened.”
“He was warned to stay out of it.”
“By you?”
Elliot said nothing.
Margaret began to cry. “I found out the truth after the crash. Victor told me that if I went to the police, he would say I had arranged the vehicle transfer knowing what was going to happen. I was frightened. I thought if I kept quiet, Julian would recover and the danger would pass.”
“You let me believe my brother was grieving with me,” Julian said.
“I was trying to protect you.”
“By hiding the people who tried to kill me?”
Margaret lowered her head.
Julian turned toward Daniel. “Call the police. Elliot stays here until they arrive.”
Elliot's expression changed. “You can't do this. I'm your brother.”
Julian's voice was quiet. “That used to mean something.”
When the police arrived, Elliot was taken for questioning. Margaret remained in the drawing room, her hands clasped tightly.
Elena stood near the window, unable to look at either sibling.
“Your father gave me the report because he believed I would do the right thing,” Margaret said.
Elena turned. “And did you?”
Margaret had no answer.
Elena looked at Julian. “I need the truth from now on. Every part of it.”
“You'll have it,” he said.
But even as he spoke, Daniel returned with a message.
“Boss, Peter Lask finally talked. He says Victor didn't act alone. Someone inside the family paid for the original plan.”
Julian looked toward Margaret.
Then toward the empty doorway where Elliot had stood.
“Who?” he asked.
May you like
Daniel hesitated.
“Your sister's name came up.”
