Chapter 9 - THE LAST WITNESS
Victor Hale was found at a rented house outside the city. He did not
resist when investigators arrived. Instead, he asked for a lawyer and
offered to cooperate.
His statement confirmed what Rosa’s letter had suggested.
Serena had planned to remove Isabelle from Tristan’s life because she
believed Isabelle intended to expose a financial scheme involving the
Crowne company. Dr. Bell had agreed to alter Isabelle’s medication,
claiming it would cause a temporary collapse and make her easier to
discredit. The dosage had been far stronger than planned.
Victor had helped conceal the altered records.
Margaret Shaw had signed the correction form without knowing the truth.
Rosa had witnessed part of the plan and preserved the recording. Victor
had threatened her job and warned that Alina could be harmed if she went
to the police.
Rosa had kept silent publicly, but she had not stopped gathering
evidence.
The investigators recovered Dr. Bell’s original records from a storage
unit rented under a false name. They also found messages between Serena
and Victor discussing the urn, the blue bird pendant, and the need to
destroy anything Rosa had left.
Serena was arrested at the private terminal before her flight departed.
When Daniel told Tristan, he simply closed his eyes.
“Is it over?” Alina asked.
“The investigation isn’t over,” he replied. “But she can’t run from it
now.”
Alina looked down at the bag.
“My mother carried this for years. She died without knowing if anyone
would believe her.”
Tristan shook his head. “I believe her.”
“That’s not the same as justice.”
“No,” he said. “It isn’t. But it’s a beginning.”
Later that day, the prosecutor confirmed that the evidence would be
presented in court. Serena and Dr. Bell would face charges related to
Isabelle’s death and the concealment of evidence. Victor would testify
under a cooperation agreement. Margaret would also provide a statement
about the medication records.
Alina finally allowed herself to cry.
May you like
Not because the pain had disappeared, but because she no longer had to
carry the secret alone.
