Chapter 7 - THE VIDEO THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING
The next morning, Elena sat in the records room with her father's notebook open in front of her. She had barely slept. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw the hospital room where her father had spent his last days.
Dr. Simon Reed had been kind. He had explained every test, brought her coffee when she stayed overnight, and assured her that Thomas's infection was simply too advanced.
Now she wondered whether any of it had been true.
Julian entered with Daniel.
“We found the original vehicle storage file,” Daniel said. “The SUV was moved to a private salvage yard after the police released it. The yard was bought by a company owned by Victor.”
“Can we recover it?” Julian asked.
“Most of it was dismantled. But the steering assembly and passenger-side mirror were kept in a sealed evidence container.”
Elena reached into her bag and removed the cracked mirror her father had hidden.
“Then this may be the one.”
Daniel examined the serial number on its back. “It matches.”
Julian looked at Elena. “Your father preserved it.”
“He wanted someone to find it.”
A forensic technician arrived that afternoon. He examined the mirror housing and discovered a small memory card sealed beneath a layer of adhesive. It had been hidden inside the plastic casing.
The card contained footage from a tiny garage camera.
The image was grainy, but the date and time were visible. Victor Shaw stood beside Julian's SUV. Elliot approached carrying a black case.
Julian watched without blinking.
The audio was faint. Daniel adjusted the recording until two voices became audible.
“Once the car is moved, the inspection will be clean,” Victor said.
“And the report?” Elliot asked.
“Thomas won't be a problem.”
Elena's breath caught.
Elliot leaned closer to the vehicle. “My brother has to be out of the way before the board meeting.”
Victor replied, “The road will do the rest.”
The recording ended.
No one spoke.
Julian stood motionless, his hands resting on the desk.
“He told me he was at a charity dinner,” he said.
Margaret, who had joined them, covered her mouth.
Elena looked at the screen. “My father knew they were planning it.”
“He must have copied the footage before they found him,” Daniel said.
Julian turned toward him. “Send it to the investigators. Make three verified copies. One for the prosecutor, one for our attorney, and one secured off-site.”
Daniel nodded.
Margaret approached her brother. “Julian, I need to tell you something else.”
He didn't look at her.
“What?”
“Thomas came to me the day before he died. He said he had been followed. He asked me to keep Elena safe.”
Julian's expression tightened.
“You knew he was in danger?”
“I knew he was afraid. I didn't know how serious it was.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because Victor had threatened to expose my signature on the transfer form. He said he would make it look as though I had arranged the crash.”
Julian finally turned. “You should have trusted me.”
“I know.”
“You should have trusted the police.”
“I know.”
“Instead, you put Elena in the middle of it.”
Margaret began to cry.
Elena looked at her. She could see the remorse was real, but it did not erase the consequences.
“I want the full truth,” Elena said. “No more secrets. Not from either of you.”
Julian nodded. “You have my word.”
A phone rang.
Daniel answered, listened, then looked at Julian.
“Victor's been found. He's at the airport. He was trying to board a private flight.”
“Is he in custody?”
“Not yet. He has two armed men with him.”
Julian's expression hardened.
“Then we let the police handle it. No one makes a move.”
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Elena looked at him with surprise.
He met her gaze. “I've spent too long thinking control meant handling everything myself.”
