Chapter 6: The Man at the Rear Gate
Peter Voss had been missing for four years, and now he was standing at Richard Whitmore’s rear gate with a black medical casePeter Voss had been missing for four years, and now he was standing at Richard Whitmore’s rear gate with a black medical case in his hand.
Richard stared at the security monitor.
The man on the in his hand.
Richard stared at the security monitor.
The man on the screen looked older than he remembered. His hair had thinned, and a pale scar ran from behind his left ear down the side of his neck. But the eyes were unmistakable. Cold screen looked older than he remembered.
His hair had thinned, and a pale scar ran from behind his left ear down the side of his neck. But the eyes were unmistakable. Cold, watchful, and entirely too comfortable in a place where he had no right to be.
“Lock every entrance,” Richard ordered.
, watchful, and entirely too comfortable in a place where he had no right to be.
“Lock every entrance,” Richard ordered.
Daniel Brooks reached for his radio.
“Already done, sir. Two officers are moving toward the rear gateDaniel Brooks reached for his radio.
“Already done, sir. Two officers are moving toward the rear gate.””
“Tell them not to approach him alone.””
James stood beside his father, his face pale.
“That’s the man I saw in the study.””
Richard glanced at him.
“Are.””
“Tell them not to approach him alone.””
James stood beside his father, his face pale.
“That’s the man I saw in the study.””
Richard glanced at him.
“Are you certain?””
“I saw the scar. I heard him talking to Victoria. I’m certain.””
Margaret closed the blue folder and pressed it against her chest.
“If Peter is here, Victoria knows the documents have been you certain?””
“I saw the scar. I heard him talking to Victoria. I’m certain.””
Margaret closed the blue folder and pressed it against her chest.
“If Peter is here, Victoria knows the documents have been found.””
Richard turned toward the bedroom door.
“Where is she?””
Daniel checked his radio.
“She left the second-floor found.””
Richard turned toward the bedroom door.
“Where is she?””
Daniel checked his radio.
“She left the second-floor corridor five minutes ago. We haven't located her since.””
Richard felt a familiar chill travel down his spine.
“Find her.””
Daniel hurried away.
On the corridor five minutes ago. We haven't located her since.””
Richard felt a familiar chill travel down his spine.
“Find her.””
Daniel hurried away.
On the monitor, Peter calmly set his medical case on the stone pillar beside the gate. He didn't attempt to flee. Instead, he monitor, Peter calmly set his medical case on the stone pillar beside the gate.
He didn't attempt to flee. Instead, he removed a folded piece of paper from his coat and held it toward the security camera.
Then he pointed directly at the lens.
Richard's phone vibrated.
An unknown number.
He answered without greeting removed a folded piece of paper from his coat and held it toward the security camera.
Then he pointed directly at the lens.
Richard's phone vibrated.
An unknown number.
He answered without greeting.
“Mr. Whitmore,” a man's voice said.
“You have something that belongs to me.””
Richard watched.
“Mr. Whitmore,” a man's voice said.
“You have something that belongs to me.””
Richard watched Peter on the monitor.
“Then you should have come here with a better explanation.””
A quiet laugh came through the phone.
“Your wife used to say you were Peter on the monitor.
“Then you should have come here with a better explanation.””
A quiet laugh came through the phone.
“Your wife used to say you were difficult to frighten.””
Richard's grip tightened.
“You knew Eleanor.””
“I knew her better than you think.””
“Why are you at my difficult to frighten.””
Richard's grip tightened.
“You knew Eleanor.””
“I knew her better than you think.””
“Why are you at my gate?””
“Because Victoria promised me the documents would be destroyed. She has apparently failed to keep her promise.””
Richard glanced at Margaret.
gate?””
“Because Victoria promised me the documents would be destroyed. She has apparently failed to keep her promise.””
Richard glanced at Margaret.
She had heard every word.
“What documents do you want?””
“The blue folder. The letters. Anything Eleanor left behind.””
She had heard every word.
“What documents do you want?””
“The blue folder. The letters. Anything Eleanor left behind.””
“And what do you intend to do with them?””
“Make sure nobody gets hurt.””
Richard almost laughed.
“Someone has already been hurt.””
The line went silent.
Then Peter spoke again.
“Your“And what do you intend to do with them?””
“Make sure nobody gets hurt.””
Richard almost laughed.
“Someone has already been hurt.””
The line went silent.
Then Peter spoke again.
“Your son is in danger, Mr. Whitmore. If you want to keep him safe, send him away from the house.””
James stepped closer to the phone.
“I'm son is in danger, Mr. Whitmore. If you want to keep him safe, send him away from the house.””
James stepped closer to the phone.
“I'm right here, you coward!””
Richard caught his son's arm before he could move closer.
right here, you coward!””
Richard caught his son's arm before he could move closer.
Peter's voice sharpened.
“James, your mother was a brave woman. She should have listened when I warned her.””
“YouPeter's voice sharpened.
“James, your mother was a brave woman. She should have listened when I warned her.””
“You were part of what happened to her!””
“Be careful what you believe.””
Richard ended the call.
He turned to Daniel, who had returned were part of what happened to her!””
“Be careful what you believe.””
Richard ended the call.
He turned to Daniel, who had returned to the room.
“Bring Peter inside under supervision. Search him, secure the case, and call the police. Nobody to the room.
“Bring Peter inside under supervision. Search him, secure the case, and call the police. Nobody speaks to him alone.””
Daniel hesitated.
“Sir, there's another issue.””
“What?””
“Someone has already contacted the police about the reception. They received an anonymous report claiming you assaulted your wife and threatened her in front speaks to him alone.””
Daniel hesitated.
“Sir, there's another issue.””
“What?””
“Someone has already contacted the police about the reception. They received an anonymous report claiming you assaulted your wife and threatened her in front of the guests.””
Richard stared at him.
“Who made the report?””
“We don't know. But the caller mentioned the broken glass and the wine.””
Margaret's face tightened.
“Victoria of the guests.””
Richard stared at him.
“Who made the report?””
“We don't know. But the caller mentioned the broken glass and the wine.””
Margaret's face tightened.
“Victoria.””
Richard looked at the monitor again.
Peter was still waiting at the gate, perfectly calm.
“Bring him in,” Richard repeated.
Within.””
Richard looked at the monitor again.
Peter was still waiting at the gate, perfectly calm.
“Bring him in,” Richard repeated.
Within minutes, Peter was escorted through the side entrance by two security officers. He wore a dark overcoat and black gloves. His medical case was gone minutes, Peter was escorted through the side entrance by two security officers.
He wore a dark overcoat and black gloves. His medical case was gone.
Richard met him in the entrance hall.
Peter looked around at the marble staircase, the oil paintings, and the enormous chandelier.
“Some things never change.
Richard met him in the entrance hall.
Peter looked around at the marble staircase, the oil paintings, and the enormous chandelier.
“Some things never change,” he said.
“Unlike people,” Richard replied.
Peter smiled faintly.
“Is that what you tell yourself about Eleanor?””
James lunged forward.
,” he said.
“Unlike people,” Richard replied.
Peter smiled faintly.
“Is that what you tell yourself about Eleanor?””
James lunged forward.
Richard caught him before he could reach Peter.
“Don't,” Richard warned.
Peter looked at the teenager with a strange mixture of pity and amusement.
“You have your mother's temper.””
“And you have her blood on your handsRichard caught him before he could reach Peter.
“Don't,” Richard warned.
Peter looked at the teenager with a strange mixture of pity and amusement.
“You have your mother's temper.””
“And you have her blood on your hands,” James said.
Peter's smile disappeared.
Richard gestured toward the study.
“Inside. Now.””
They entered together. Daniel remained,” James said.
Peter's smile disappeared.
Richard gestured toward the study.
“Inside. Now.””
They entered together. Daniel remained by the door while Margaret and James stood near the desk.
Richard placed the blue folder on the table.
“Tell me what by the door while Margaret and James stood near the desk.
Richard placed the blue folder on the table.
“Tell me what happened on November 19.””
Peter glanced at the folder.
“Four years ago, Eleanor discovered that money was being moved through a network of shell companies. happened on November 19.””
Peter glanced at the folder.
“Four years ago, Eleanor discovered that money was being moved through a network of shell companies. She believed it was a simple embezzlement scheme. It wasn't.””
“Who was behind it?””
“Edward started She believed it was a simple embezzlement scheme. It wasn't.””
“Who was behind it?””
“Edward started it. Victoria helped him conceal it. I handled the technical side.””
Richard's jaw tightened.
“How much money?””
“Enough to bring down parts it. Victoria helped him conceal it. I handled the technical side.””
Richard's jaw tightened.
“How much money?””
“Enough to bring down parts of your company if the full records became public.””
“That's not what I asked.””
Peter leaned back.
“Forty-two million dollars.””
Richard stared at him.
Forty-two million.
Money of your company if the full records became public.””
“That's not what I asked.””
Peter leaned back.
“Forty-two million dollars.””
Richard stared at him.
Forty-two million.
Money that had vanished from accounts he personally oversaw. Money he had believed was tied to an internal accounting dispute.
“Why did Eleanor know about it?””
“She found a that had vanished from accounts he personally oversaw. Money he had believed was tied to an internal accounting dispute.
“Why did Eleanor know about it?””
“She found a transfer that had been authorized using your signature. She recognized that it wasn't yours.””
Richard glanced at the forged document in the folder.
“And what happened after she discovered the scheme?””
Peter rubbed his transfer that had been authorized using your signature. She recognized that it wasn't yours.””
Richard glanced at the forged document in the folder.
“And what happened after she discovered the scheme?””
Peter rubbed his scar.
“She confronted Edward. He panicked. Victoria told him she could persuade Eleanor to remain quiet scar.
“She confronted Edward. He panicked. Victoria told him she could persuade Eleanor to remain quiet until the money was replaced.””
“Persuade her how?””
Peter's eyes shifted toward James.
“She was going to use until the money was replaced.””
“Persuade her how?””
Peter's eyes shifted toward James.
“She was going to use Eleanor's medical condition against her. Make everyone believe the cancer had affected her judgment.””
Margaret stepped forward.
“That's not all you did.””
Peter looked at her.
“No,” he said quietly.
“It isn't.””
Richard Eleanor's medical condition against her. Make everyone believe the cancer had affected her judgment.””
Margaret stepped forward.
“That's not all you did.””
Peter looked at her.
“No,” he said quietly.
“It isn't.””
Richard felt his stomach turn.
“Did you alter Eleanor's medication?””
Peter lowered his eyes felt his stomach turn.
“Did you alter Eleanor's medication?””
Peter lowered his eyes.
“I changed the labels on two bottles. I was told the medication would be replaced before she took another dose.””
“By whom?””
“Victoria.””
“Did she tell you what she intended to do?””
“She said she needed Eleanor to become.
“I changed the labels on two bottles. I was told the medication would be replaced before she took another dose.””
“By whom?””
“Victoria.””
“Did she tell you what she intended to do?””
“She said she needed Eleanor to become confused enough to stop asking questions. She swore it wouldn't kill her.””
James made a strangled sound.
“You expect us to believe that?””
“No,” Peter answered.
“I expect confused enough to stop asking questions. She swore it wouldn't kill her.””
James made a strangled sound.
“You expect us to believe that?””
“No,” Peter answered.
“I expect you to hate me.””
Richard stepped closer.
“What happened on November 19?””
Peter looked toward you to hate me.””
Richard stepped closer.
“What happened on November 19?””
Peter looked toward the window.
“Eleanor discovered the medication had been changed. She called Margaret and asked her to come to the house. I arrived the window.
“Eleanor discovered the medication had been changed. She called Margaret and asked her to come to the house. I arrived first. Victoria was already there.””
“What did you do?””
“I tried to take the blue folder. Eleanor refused to give it to me.””
“And then first. Victoria was already there.””
“What did you do?””
“I tried to take the blue folder. Eleanor refused to give it to me.””
“And then?””
Peter's face became rigid.
“Edward arrived. They argued. Eleanor threatened to call the police. Edward told her she would?””
Peter's face became rigid.
“Edward arrived. They argued. Eleanor threatened to call the police. Edward told her she would destroy the family.””
Richard gripped the edge of the desk.
“Did Edward hurt her?””
Peter didn't answer immediately.
“Did he?”” Richard demanded.
“I heard a crash from the bedroom. When I entered, Eleanor was on the floor.””
James covered destroy the family.””
Richard gripped the edge of the desk.
“Did Edward hurt her?””
Peter didn't answer immediately.
“Did he?”” Richard demanded.
“I heard a crash from the bedroom. When I entered, Eleanor was on the floor.””
James covered his mouth.
Richard felt the room tilt around him.
“Was she alive?””
“Yes.””
The answer came quietly.
“She was his mouth.
Richard felt the room tilt around him.
“Was she alive?””
“Yes.””
The answer came quietly.
“She was conscious. She was frightened. She asked me to call an ambulance.””
“Did you?””
Peter looked at Richard.
“No.””
James erupted.
“You let conscious. She was frightened. She asked me to call an ambulance.””
“Did you?””
Peter looked at Richard.
“No.””
James erupted.
“You let her die!””
Peter flinched, but he didn't look away.
“Victoria told me an ambulance would bring the police. Edward said the documents had her die!””
Peter flinched, but he didn't look away.
“Victoria told me an ambulance would bring the police. Edward said the documents had to disappear first. I believed we had time.””
“You believed?”” Richard's voice was barely recognizable.
“You stood in to disappear first. I believed we had time.””
“You believed?”” Richard's voice was barely recognizable.
“You stood in my house while my wife was dying, and you believed you had time?””
Peter swallowed.
“I went to get the medical case. When I returned, Eleanor was no longer speaking. Victoria my house while my wife was dying, and you believed you had time?””
Peter swallowed.
“I went to get the medical case. When I returned, Eleanor was no longer speaking. Victoria said she had stopped breathing.””
Richard's hands began to shake.
“What did you do then?””
“We left. Edward took the folder. Victoria called the family doctor and said she had stopped breathing.””
Richard's hands began to shake.
“What did you do then?””
“We left. Edward took the folder. Victoria called the family doctor and told him Eleanor had suffered a sudden medical crisis.””
Margaret pressed a hand to her mouth.
Richard could barely breathe.
He had been in Boston that night, told him Eleanor had suffered a sudden medical crisis.””
Margaret pressed a hand to her mouth.
Richard could barely breathe.
He had been in Boston that night, attending a dinner with investors. He remembered receiving the call just after midnight. Victoria had told him that Eleanor had deteriorated unexpectedly.
He had driven home through the night.
He had arrived too late to say attending a dinner with investors. He remembered receiving the call just after midnight. Victoria had told him that Eleanor had deteriorated unexpectedly.
He had driven home through the night.
He had arrived too late to say goodbye.
“Why are you telling me this now?”” he asked.
Peter looked toward the blue folder.
“Because Edward has decided to eliminate everyone who can connect him goodbye.
“Why are you telling me this now?”” he asked.
Peter looked toward the blue folder.
“Because Edward has decided to eliminate everyone who can connect him to the money. Victoria was supposed to give him the remaining records. She didn't. And now he's afraid.””
“Afraid of what to the money. Victoria was supposed to give him the remaining records. She didn't. And now he's afraid.””
“Afraid of what?””
Peter hesitated.
Then he reached into his coat and placed a small digital recorder on the desk.
“Eleanor knew?””
Peter hesitated.
Then he reached into his coat and placed a small digital recorder on the desk.
“Eleanor knew she might not survive. She recorded a conversation with Victoria the night before she died.””
Richard stared at the device.
“Where did you get that she might not survive. She recorded a conversation with Victoria the night before she died.””
Richard stared at the device.
“Where did you get that?””
“From the medical case I left at the gate. I was supposed to exchange it for the folder.””
Daniel moved toward the recorder, but Richard raised a hand.
“Don't touch it.””
Peter pushed it across?””
“From the medical case I left at the gate. I was supposed to exchange it for the folder.””
Daniel moved toward the recorder, but Richard raised a hand.
“Don't touch it.””
Peter pushed it across the desk.
“The recording proves Victoria knew what was happening. But there's something else you need to hear.””
He pressed the button.
A woman's voice filled the room.
Eleanor.
the desk.
“The recording proves Victoria knew what was happening. But there's something else you need to hear.””
He pressed the button.
A woman's voice filled the room.
Eleanor.
Weak, frightened, but unmistakably Eleanor.
“Victoria, if anything happens to me, Richard will find out what you did.””
AWeak, frightened, but unmistakably Eleanor.
“Victoria, if anything happens to me, Richard will find out what you did.””
A second voice answered.
Victoria's.
“Richard will never believe you. By the time he understands, it will be too late.””
There was a pause.
Then Eleanor asked the question that made Richard second voice answered.
Victoria's.
“Richard will never believe you. By the time he understands, it will be too late.””
There was a pause.
Then Eleanor asked the question that made Richard's blood run cold.
“And what about James?””
Victoria's answer came clearly through the speaker.
“James is the reason you should have kept your mouth shut.””
The recording ended.
James's blood run cold.
“And what about James?””
Victoria's answer came clearly through the speaker.
“James is the reason you should have kept your mouth shut.””
The recording ended.
James stood motionless.
Richard closed his eyes.
For four years, he had believed his wife died because her illness had progressed beyond treatment.
Now he knew someone had stood beside her in stood motionless.
Richard closed his eyes.
For four years, he had believed his wife died because her illness had progressed beyond treatment.
Now he knew someone had stood beside her in her final hours and chosen silence.
When he opened his eyes, Peter was watching him.
“There's more,” Peter said.
“The recording was never meant to be the only evidence.””
Richard leaned forward.
“What else exists her final hours and chosen silence.
When he opened his eyes, Peter was watching him.
“There's more,” Peter said.
“The recording was never meant to be the only evidence.””
Richard leaned forward.
“What else exists?””
Peter glanced toward the door.
“Eleanor made a copy of the original security footage. It shows who entered the bedroom, who left, and who took the medication?””
Peter glanced toward the door.
“Eleanor made a copy of the original security footage. It shows who entered the bedroom, who left, and who took the medication case.””
“Where is it?””
Peter's lips parted.
Before he could answer, a loud crash came from the hallway.
Daniel ran to the door.
A security officer shouted from downstairs.
“Mr. Whitmore! case.””
“Where is it?””
Peter's lips parted.
Before he could answer, a loud crash came from the hallway.
Daniel ran to the door.
A security officer shouted from downstairs.
“Mr. Whitmore! The east entrance is open!””
Peter's face went white.
He rose abruptly.
“Edward is here.””
And from somewhere below them The east entrance is open!””
Peter's face went white.
He rose abruptly.
“Edward is here.””
And from somewhere below them, a woman's scream cut through the house.
Victoria.
May you like
, a woman's scream cut through the house.
Victoria.
