Chapter 5 - The Red File in Victor’s Study
Gabriel moved fast.
The Voss house was fifteen minutes away.
Victor met them at the gate.
No coat.
Snow on his shoulders.
He looked older than he had at the gala.
Elena stepped out first.
“Dad.”
He looked at Maria.
Then Gabriel.
“I am sorry.”
Gabriel walked past him.
Victor followed.
“The study.”
Elena led them upstairs.
Door open.
Desk drawers pulled out.
Safe exposed.
Empty.
Victor stopped.
“No.”
Gabriel looked at him.
“What was in it?”
Victor stared at the safe.
“A red file.”
Maria nodded.
“The originals.”
“Yes.”
“Anything else?”
Victor swallowed.
“A recording.”
Gabriel frowned.
“Of who?”
Victor looked at Maria.
“Dominic.”
Silence.
Gabriel stepped closer.
“What recording?”
Victor closed his eyes.
“The night Marco died.”
Gabriel stopped.
“You recorded my uncle?”
Victor nodded.
“I was wearing a wire.”
Elena stared.
“You really were going to testify.”
“Yes.”
“Then why did you tell me none of this?”
Victor looked at her.
“Because the recording also proves I helped.”
Elena’s face fell.
Victor continued.
“I signed the first dosage changes.”
Gabriel said:
“We know.”
Victor looked surprised.
Arthur held up copies.
“Not all the signatures were yours.”
Victor stared.
“No.”
“How many?”
“Four.”
Arthur nodded.
“That fits.”
Gabriel looked at Victor.
“What does the recording prove?”
Victor answered:
“Dominic admitted ordering the sedative for you.”
Gabriel’s jaw tightened.
“And the car?”
Victor hesitated.
“No.”
Gabriel noticed.
“What?”
Victor looked at Maria.
“The recording starts after the accident.”
Gabriel stared.
“So it does not prove he killed Dad.”
“No.”
“Then what does it prove?”
Victor’s voice lowered.
“That Dominic believed Marco was still alive.”
Silence.
Maria stopped breathing.
Gabriel stared.
“What?”
Victor nodded.
“The accident did not kill him immediately.”
Maria covered her mouth.
Gabriel’s face went blank.
“Where was my father?”
Victor looked away.
“An abandoned clinic.”
Arthur whispered:
“What?”
Victor continued.
“Dominic had him moved.”
Gabriel took one step back.
“Elena.”
She grabbed his arm.
He did not pull away.
Maria looked at Victor.
“You told me Marco died at the scene.”
“I thought he had.”
“When did you learn?”
“The next morning.”
Maria began crying.
“And you said nothing.”
Victor’s voice broke.
“I was trying to find him.”
Gabriel stared.
“For how long?”
“Three days.”
“Then?”
Victor looked at the empty safe.
“Dominic called.”
“What did he say?”
“That Marco was dead.”
Gabriel laughed bitterly.
“And you believed him.”
“No.”
Victor looked at him.
“I found the clinic.”
Silence.
Gabriel stopped.
“And?”
Victor’s eyes filled.
“It was empty.”
Maria whispered:
“Body?”
“No.”
Gabriel stared.
“You never found Dad.”
Victor shook his head.
“No.”
The room changed.
For twenty-one years, Gabriel had believed his father died in the crash.
Now no one could prove where he died at all.
Gabriel looked at Maria.
“You knew?”
She shook her head violently.
“No.”
Victor looked at her.
“I never told you.”
Maria slapped him.
Hard.
Elena flinched.
Victor did not move.
Maria slapped him again.
“You let me mourn a man you had not even found.”
“I was afraid hope would make you come back.”
“You do not own hope.”
Victor closed his eyes.
Gabriel looked at him.
“Where is the recording now?”
Victor pointed at the empty safe.
“Dominic has it.”
Gabriel’s phone rang.
Unknown number.
He answered.
Dominic Marino.
“Gabriel.”
Gabriel’s face hardened.
“You stole the file.”
Dominic laughed softly.
“I recovered family property.”
“Where is my father?”
Silence.
Gabriel repeated:
“Where is my father?”
Dominic sighed.
“Victor never told you.”
“No.”
“That is almost funny.”
Gabriel’s hand tightened.
Dominic continued.
“Marco survived the crash.”
“We know.”
“He survived longer than Victor thinks.”
Maria stopped breathing.
Gabriel stared at Victor.
“How long?”
Dominic whispered:
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