Chapter 9 - The Last Trap at the Arden Hotel

Roman wanted to go alone.

No one let him.

Not Michael.

Not Celeste.

Not Mr. Price.

Not me.

Roman looked at me as we reached the hotel.

“You should not be here.”

I said:

“You said that last time.”

“This is different.”

“It always is.”

For the first time all night, he almost smiled.

Then it vanished.

The hotel doors were open.

Thomas had turned on the ballroom lights.

Dust floated beneath the chandeliers.

In the center of the room stood one table.

Two chairs.

Thomas sat in one.

A pistol rested in front of him.

Roman stopped.

Michael moved beside him.

Thomas smiled.

“There you are.”

Roman held up the letter.

“You wanted this.”

“I want the affidavit too.”

“No.”

Thomas looked at Michael.

“You taught him badly.”

Michael said:

“I did not teach him at all.”

Thomas’s smile faded.

“That was your choice.”

Roman stepped forward.

“No.”

“It was yours.”

Thomas looked at him.

Roman continued.

“You frightened him into disappearing.”

“I kept you alive.”

“You kept me close.”

“I raised you.”

“You controlled me.”

“I protected you.”

“You filmed my bedroom.”

Thomas said nothing.

Celeste moved beside Roman.

Thomas looked at her.

“And you.”

“You were supposed to keep him calm.”

Roman turned slightly.

Celeste froze.

“What?”

Thomas smiled.

Michael looked at her.

Roman stared.

Thomas continued.

“Did she never tell you why Julian introduced us?”

Celeste’s face drained.

Roman whispered:

“Celeste.”

She shook her head.

“Not like this.”

Thomas laughed.

“There is always another lie.”

Roman looked at his wife.

“Tell me.”

Her eyes filled.

“Before I met you, Thomas approached Julian.”

Roman went still.

“He wanted someone close to you.”

“Yes.”

“And Julian chose you.”

“Yes.”

Roman looked like he had been cut open.

Celeste reached for him.

He stepped back.

She whispered:

“I was supposed to meet you.”

“Supposed to?”

“At the museum fundraiser.”

Roman remembered.

Their first meeting.

Three years and eight months ago.

Celeste continued.

“I was supposed to learn who you trusted.”

“Did you?”

“Yes.”

“Did you report to Thomas?”

“Twice.”

Roman closed his eyes.

Michael looked away.

Celeste’s voice broke.

“Then I stopped.”

“Why?”

“Because I fell in love with you.”

Thomas laughed.

“How original.”

Celeste turned on him.

“And because I realized you were using Julian.”

Thomas shrugged.

Roman looked at her.

“Is that when you found my father?”

“Yes.”

“Before or after you agreed to marry me?”

“Before.”

Roman stared.

Every good memory now had a second shadow.

Thomas picked up the pistol.

Michael stepped forward.

Thomas pointed it at him.

“No farther.”

Roman raised his hands.

“Put it down.”

Thomas looked at Roman.

“I gave you everything.”

“You gave me a cage.”

“I gave you power.”

“I never asked for yours.”

Thomas’s face hardened.

“That company would have collapsed under your father.”

Michael said:

“Then it should have collapsed.”

Thomas turned the gun toward him.

That was when Julian entered from the rear doors.

“No.”

Thomas smiled.

“The frightened son arrives.”

Julian did not have a weapon.

He held a phone.

“You asked for proof.”

Thomas frowned.

Julian raised it.

“Every word since Roman walked in has been transmitted to Mr. Price.”

Thomas stood.

Roman looked at Julian.

Thomas laughed.

“To whom?”

Julian smiled faintly.

“Not only him.”

Sirens sounded outside.

Thomas’s face changed.

He raised the gun toward Roman.

Michael moved first.

He struck Thomas’s wrist with his cane.

The gun fired into the ceiling.

Celeste pulled Roman backward.

Julian rushed forward.

The weapon hit the floor.

I kicked it beneath the table.

Thomas hit Michael.

Roman grabbed Thomas.

For several seconds, there was nothing elegant about any of them.

Only age.

Anger.

Seventeen years.

Then police entered the ballroom.

Thomas stopped fighting.

Roman still held his uncle’s coat.

Thomas looked at him.

“You think this ends with me?”

Roman’s breathing slowed.

“No.”

Thomas smiled.

“Good.”

Roman released him.

“Because it ends with the truth.”

Police took Thomas away.

Julian watched in silence.

Michael sat down.

His hands shook.

Celeste stood several feet from Roman.

She did not touch him.

She knew better now.

Roman looked at her.

“Was any part of us real?”

Her answer came immediately.

“Yes.”

“From when?”

She started crying.

“From the moment I stopped reporting to him.”

Roman looked away.

“That is not the beginning.”

“No.”

She swallowed.

“But it is the truth.”

Roman said nothing.

Then Mr. Price entered the ballroom.

He carried one final envelope.

“Roman.”

Roman turned.

“What now?”

Price looked at Michael.

Then at Celeste.

Then at Julian.

“The district attorney opened the affidavit.”

“And?”

“They found a name we missed.”

Roman frowned.

“Whose?”

Mr. Price handed him the page.

Roman read it.

His eyes widened.

It was the name of the mechanic.

The same mechanic who had serviced Eleanor Arden’s car.

Under it was a handwritten note from Eleanor.

NOT PAID BY THOMAS.

PAID THROUGH VALE ACCOUNT 18.

Celeste stared.

“My father.”

Roman looked at Mr. Price.

Price shook his head.

“No.”

He pointed at the signature beneath the transfer authorization.

Julian leaned closer.

His face went pale.

Celeste whispered:

“What?”

Julian looked at her.

“That isn’t Father’s signature.”

Roman asked:

“Whose is it?”

Julian swallowed.

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Then answered.

“Mine.”