Chapter 5 - The Body Was Moved Before Anyone Called Police

Vincent sat down.

Nobody asked him to.

He looked sick.

Nico stood over him.

“My uncle said you moved my father’s body.”

Vincent whispered:

“Yes.”

Alessandra stared.

“Dad.”

Nico’s voice stayed calm.

That made it worse.

“Where?”

“From the staircase.”

“To?”

“The bedroom.”

“Why?”

Vincent rubbed his face.

“Because when I found him, there was something beside him.”

“What?”

“A syringe.”

Silence.

Simon turned.

“You never told me that.”

“No.”

Nico stared.

“A syringe.”

“Yes.”

“Was it used?”

“I don’t know.”

“Why move him?”

“Panic.”

Nico laughed quietly.

“Of course.”

Vincent continued.

“I thought if police saw a syringe, they would investigate everyone in the house.”

“They should have.”

“Yes.”

Alessandra covered her face.

Vincent looked at her.

“I had already stolen money from him.”

Nico’s eyes hardened.

“You were afraid an investigation would expose you.”

“Yes.”

“So you moved my father.”

“Yes.”

“Did you remove the syringe?”

Vincent hesitated.

“Yes.”

“Where is it?”

Silence.

Nico leaned closer.

“Where?”

“I kept it.”

Everyone stared.

Simon whispered:

“For five years?”

Vincent nodded.

“Why?”

“Because I knew moving it was wrong.”

“That is a remarkable time to develop evidence preservation.”

Vincent ignored him.

“It is in my private safe.”

“Where?”

“Home.”

Nico looked at Alessandra.

She was shaking her head.

Not at him.

At her father.

“You turned his death into a clean accident to protect yourself.”

Vincent whispered:

“Yes.”

Alessandra walked out.

Nico watched her go.

Then looked back at Vincent.

“What else?”

“That is all.”

Nico stared.

Vincent broke first.

“There was one more thing.”

Simon muttered:

“Of course.”

Vincent closed his eyes.

“His watch was missing.”

Nico frowned.

“What watch?”

“Your mother’s wedding gift.”

Nico touched his own wrist instinctively.

“My father never took it off.”

“I know.”

“Who had it?”

“I don’t know.”

The front door alarm sounded.

One long tone.

A guard entered Room Eight.

“Sir.”

Nico turned.

“Two vehicles at the gate. They left when challenged.”

“Plates?”

“Covered.”

Vincent whispered:

“Marcello.”

Nico looked at the USB drive.

Then at me.

“Julia.”

“Yes?”

“Take this.”

He handed it to me.

I stared.

“Why me?”

“Because everyone will watch me.”

Fair.

I put it inside the lining of my apron.

Nico looked at Simon.

“Copy everything else.”

Then at Vincent.

“We’re going to your house.”

Alessandra was waiting by the car.

Nico approached her.

She looked at him.

“I am not asking you to forgive him.”

“I know.”

“I’m not asking you to forgive me either.”

He stopped.

“For what?”

“I knew about the second will last year.”

“Yes.”

“I also knew my father had taken money.”

Nico stared.

“You knew about the eight million?”

“Not the amount.”

“When did you learn?”

“Six months ago.”

“And you still let this engagement happen.”

She nodded.

“Why?”

“Because I loved you.”

He said nothing.

She continued.

“And because I was afraid if I told you, you would think everything between us was part of my father’s plan.”

“Was it?”

“No.”

“How can I know?”

“You can’t.”

That answer made him look at her differently.

She wiped her eyes.

“That is the part I hate most.”

Nico looked toward the house.

“Then help me find something I can know.”

At Vincent’s estate, the safe was behind a painting.

Inside:

Cash.

Documents.

The syringe.

And a watch.

Nico froze.

Vincent looked shocked.

“That was not there.”

Nico turned slowly.

“What?”

“The watch.”

“You said it was missing.”

“It was.”

Alessandra stared at her father.

“Are you lying again?”

“No.”

Vincent stepped toward the safe.

“I swear.”

Simon looked at the watch.

“Do not touch it.”

Nico crouched.

The glass face was cracked.

On the back were initials.

L.R.

Nico’s mother.

It was real.

A small brown stain remained beneath the clasp.

Blood.

Nico stood.

“Someone put this here.”

Vincent nodded.

“Yes.”

“When?”

“I don’t know.”

I looked at the safe door.

No damage.

No forced entry.

“Who knows the code?”

Vincent answered.

“Me.”

Alessandra whispered:

“And Mom.”

Silence.

Her mother had been dead eight years.

Vincent stared at the keypad.

Then his face changed.

“My assistant.”

“Who?”

“Daniel.”

Nico looked at him.

“Where is Daniel tonight?”

Vincent grabbed his phone.

Called.

No answer.

Again.

Nothing.

Simon asked:

“How long has he worked for you?”

“Eleven years.”

Nico’s expression hardened.

“Who recommended him?”

Vincent did not answer.

He did not need to.

Nico already knew.

“My uncle.”

Vincent whispered:

“Yes.”

A guard entered.

“Sir.”

Nico turned.

“We found Mr. Bell’s assistant’s car.”

“Where?”

“Two miles away.”

“Daniel?”

“No.”

The guard held up a plastic evidence bag.

Inside was a black phone.

And a folded paper.

Nico took the paper.

One sentence.

HANGAR 3. COME BEFORE SUNRISE IF YOU WANT THE ORIGINAL WORK ORDER.

Alessandra stared.

“It’s a trap.”

Nico folded the note.

“Yes.”

“You’re going.”

“Yes.”

Simon stepped forward.

“Your father specifically told you not to go alone.”

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Nico looked at all of us.

“I’m not alone anymore.”