Chapter 16 - THE NIGHT CAMDEN CAME BACK
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The court hearing made the news by the afternoon.
Breakwater's stock value fell sharply.
Investors demanded an explanation.
The board suspended Camden pending the investigation.
Bianca's company was subpoenaed.
And for the first time, Camden Rourke was no longer the man controlling the story.
He responded by appearing at Nora's temporary residence that night.
Holly had arranged for Nora to stay in a secure apartment while the legal proceedings continued. The building had controlled access and a doorman who knew not to admit unannounced visitors.
But Camden arrived with his mother.
The doorman called upstairs.
Nora looked through the security camera.
She did not want to see him.
She also knew he would not leave easily.
Holly answered the intercom.
“Mr. Rourke, all communication must go through counsel.”
Camden looked into the camera.
“I want to speak to my wife.”
“She has asked you not to contact her.”
“I'm the father of her child.”
“Then you should behave like one.”
Margaret stepped forward.
“This is a family matter.”
Holly's voice remained calm.
“Not anymore.”
The intercom went silent.
A minute later, the doorman called again.
“They're still outside.”
Nora sat on the sofa, one hand over her stomach.
“Let them wait.”
Holly nodded.
But Camden did not leave.
He called Nora directly.
She answered with Holly beside her.
“What?”
“I need to see you.”
“No.”
“Just five minutes.”
“You had eleven years.”
“Nora, listen to me.”
“I have listened to you for eleven years. I'm finished.”
His voice dropped.
“Gideon is going to make a deal with the prosecutors. He's going to blame me for everything.”
“Then tell the truth.”
“I can't.”
“Why?”
“Because if I do, you'll lose everything.”
Nora frowned.
“What does that mean?”
“Your mother knows what happened. She knows what your father did. She knows the trust was never clean.”
Nora went still.
“Explain.”
“Your father used the trust to move money through companies that were already under investigation. Gideon didn't create the scheme. He inherited it.”
“My father is dead.”
“And your mother knew.”
Nora looked at Holly.
“Are you threatening me?”
“I'm warning you.”
“You've mistaken the two.”
Camden exhaled.
“I can still protect you.”
“No. You can finally stop hurting me.”
She ended the call.
Holly looked at her.
“Do you believe him?”
Nora thought about the ledger.
About the letters.
About the years of concealment.
“I believe he knows something.”
Holly nodded.
“Then we'll investigate it.”
Later that night, Nora received a message from Eleanor.
I need to tell you something about your father. Something I should have told you before.
Nora called her immediately.
Her mother answered in a whisper.
“Your father didn't die in an accident.”
Nora sat upright.
“What?”
Eleanor's voice trembled.
“The crash was arranged.”
“By whom?”
A long pause.
Then Eleanor said:
“Gideon. And someone who wanted your father to stop looking for the money.”
Nora felt cold.
“Who?”
May you like
Her mother whispered a name.
“Camden's father.”
