Chapter 10 - The Night Evelyn Disappeared|
For two years, Dominic believed his wife had died during a roadside ambush outside Chicago.
According to the police report, Evelyn Vale's vehicle had been attacked while returning from a charity dinner.
She was pronounced dead after being transported to a hospital.
Noah, then two years old, survived.
That was the official story.
But Noah had just said something that didn't belong in any police report.
The man took her.
Dominic sat completely still.
“Who took Mommy, Noah?”
The boy looked down at his toys.
“I don't know.”
“Did you see his face?”
Noah shook his head.
Dominic leaned forward.
“Please, son. Try to remember.”
I gently touched his arm.
“Don't push him.”
Dominic looked at me.
“He might know who killed her.”
“I understand. But he's frightened.”
For a moment, I thought Dominic would argue.
Instead, he closed his eyes.
Then moved backward.
“You're right.”
Noah began arranging his wooden animals in a line.
I watched quietly.
He placed a small horse beside a toy car.
Then a bear.
Then another horse.
“What are you making?” I asked.
“A road.”
“Who was on the road?”
He pointed toward the bear.
“Me.”
Then toward one horse.
“Mommy.”
I smiled gently.
“And the other horse?”
Noah's fingers trembled.
“The bad man.”
He pushed the toy car sideways.
“Bang.”
Dominic's face went pale.
Noah picked up the horse representing his mother.
He moved it away from the car.
Then placed it beneath the table.
“Mommy hid.”
I looked at Dominic.
He had stopped breathing normally.
“Where did Mommy hide?” I asked.
Noah pointed under the table.
“In the dark.”
“Was she hurt?”
The boy nodded.
Then whispered:
“She told me to close my eyes.”
My throat tightened.
“Did you?”
A small nod.
“Then what happened?”
He picked up the second horse.
Moved it toward his mother's figure.
And whispered:
“Come with me.”
Dominic leaned forward.
“Who said that?”
Noah covered his ears.
“No more.”
I immediately moved the toys aside.
“Okay, sweetheart.”
He crawled into my lap.
We sat quietly until his breathing slowed.
Dominic stood and walked toward the window.
I followed a few minutes later.
“Mr. Vale?”
He didn't turn.
“They told me Evelyn died before the ambulance arrived.”
I hesitated.
“Was there an independent autopsy?”
“Yes. At least, that's what I was told.”
He looked at me.
“Marcus arranged most of the funeral.”
My stomach tightened.
“The same Marcus who threatened Tyler?”
Dominic nodded.
For a long time, he stared across the garden.
Then he whispered:
“I was told my wife was dead, and I never questioned the people who brought me that news.”
I didn't know what to say.
Dominic turned toward me.
His eyes looked strangely vulnerable.
“If someone lied about her death…”
He couldn't finish.
Then Gabriel appeared at the door.
“Boss, there's something you should see.”
He handed Dominic an old security photograph.
It showed Evelyn's damaged vehicle after the attack.
A second black SUV stood behind it.
The license plate was partially visible.
Dominic studied the image.
May you like
Then whispered:
“That vehicle belongs to one of my own companies.”
