Chapter 6 - THE MAN WHO KNEW HER HUSBAND
Adrian was in his office when Mara arrived.
She walked past three security guards.
None of them stopped her.
Perhaps they had been told not to.
Perhaps Adrian had known she was coming.
She pushed open his office door.
He looked up.
His expression immediately changed.
“You’re angry.”
“What happened the night Elena died?”
Adrian went still.
Mara placed the photograph on his desk.
He looked at it.
Then at her.
“Where did you get this?”
“Blake.”
Adrian stood.
“Did he contact you?”
“Yes.”
“I told you not to answer.”
“I know.”
“You answered anyway.”
“Yes.”
Adrian's jaw tightened.
Mara stepped closer.
“You were there.”
“Yes.”
“What happened?”
“Not here.”
“Why?”
“Because you're emotional.”
Mara stared at him.
“Don't do that.”
“What?”
“Don't call me emotional because you don't want to answer.”
Adrian said nothing.
Mara pointed at the photograph.
“Were you there?”
“Yes.”
“Did you kill her?”
Adrian's eyes hardened.
“No.”
“Did you leave her?”
He looked away.
Mara's breath caught.
“Did you?”
Adrian walked to the window.
For several seconds, he said nothing.
Then he answered.
“Yes.”
Mara felt something break inside her.
“What?”
“I left her.”
“Alive?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because she told me to.”
Mara stared at him.
Adrian turned.
“Elena had found the records.”
“The same records Blake had?”
“Yes.”
“She called you?”
“Yes.”
“What did she say?”
“She said she had proof.”
“Proof of what?”
“That Blake was moving money through my company.”
Mara stared.
“Why would she call you?”
“Because she was my sister.”
“What happened?”
Adrian's expression became distant.
“She was inside an old warehouse.”
“Alone?”
“No.”
“Who was there?”
“Blake.”
Mara's heart pounded.
“You saw him?”
“Yes.”
“Then why didn't you stop him?”
Adrian closed his eyes for a moment.
“Because Elena told me not to come inside.”
Mara said nothing.
“She said she had a plan.”
“And you listened?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I trusted her.”
His voice cracked slightly.
Mara noticed.
“What happened next?”
“She called me again.”
“When?”
“Twenty minutes later.”
“What did she say?”
“Nothing.”
Mara's chest tightened.
“What do you mean?”
“She was breathing.”
“And?”
“Then the phone went dead.”
Mara stared at him.
“You went inside?”
“Yes.”
“And?”
“She was gone.”
“Dead?”
“Not yet.”
Mara froze.
Adrian looked at her.
“I found blood.”
“But not her.”
“No.”
“What happened after that?”
“I searched for her.”
“For how long?”
“Six days.”
Mara whispered, “And then they found her.”
Adrian nodded.
“Dead.”
The room was silent.
Mara looked down.
“Why did Blake say you did something?”
“Because he wants you to doubt me.”
“Maybe he has a reason.”
Adrian's eyes met hers.
“He does.”
Mara waited.
“He knows something I don't.”
“What?”
“That Elena didn't die in that warehouse.”
Mara stopped.
“What?”
Adrian opened a drawer.
He removed a photograph.
A body.
A hospital morgue.
Mara looked away.
“I’m sorry.”
Adrian placed it on the desk.
“That was the body they identified as Elena.”
Mara stared.
“What do you mean?”
Adrian's voice became cold.
“The dental records matched.”
“But?”
“But Elena had a scar.”
Mara looked at him.
“Where?”
“Her left wrist.”
The photograph showed the body.
No scar.
Mara felt a chill.
“That wasn't her.”
“No.”
“Then where is she?”
Adrian's eyes hardened.
“I don't know.”
Mara stared at him.
“She's alive?”
“I don't know.”
“But you think she could be.”
“Yes.”
The door opened.
The man from the hotel appeared.
“Boss.”
Adrian turned.
“What?”
“We found the woman who left with Blake.”
“Who?”
The man looked at Mara.
“Her name is Vanessa Reed.”
Mara's stomach dropped.
She knew that name.
She had seen it.
On Blake's phone.
In his emails.
On hotel reservations.
Mara whispered, “His assistant.”
The man nodded.
“She worked for Blake for six years.”
Adrian asked, “Where are they?”
“New York.”
Adrian's expression hardened.
“Get the plane ready.”
Mara immediately stepped forward.
“I’m coming.”
“No.”
“Yes.”
“Mara.”
“I know Vanessa.”
“You don't know what you're walking into.”
“I know her better than you do.”
Adrian stared at her.
Mara continued.
“She was the only person Blake trusted with his business.”
Adrian said nothing.
“She knows where he keeps everything.”
“That's why you're staying here.”
“No.”
“You are not going.”
Mara's voice hardened.
“Then I’ll find another way.”
Adrian stared at her.
“Are you threatening me?”
“No.”
“Then what?”
“I’m telling you.”
For a long moment, neither moved.
Then Adrian sighed.
“Fine.”
Mara blinked.
“Fine?”
“You come with me.”
She hadn't expected that.
“But you do exactly what I say.”
Mara narrowed her eyes.
“No.”
Adrian's expression darkened.
“Then you stay.”
Mara held his gaze.
Finally, she said, “I’ll come.”
Adrian nodded.
“Pack a bag.”
Mara turned toward the door.
Then stopped.
“What?”
Adrian looked at her.
“Vanessa.”
“What about her?”
Mara's voice lowered.
“She isn't afraid of Blake.”
Adrian watched her.
“She should be.”
Mara looked back.
“No.”
Her expression changed.
“She should be afraid of something else.”
Adrian's eyes narrowed.
“What?”
May you like
Mara whispered:
“Vanessa is the one who taught Blake how to control me.”
