Chapter 14 - THE FIRST MARRIAGE|
Audrey read Isabelle's note several times.
The handwriting was delicate and uneven, as though the woman had written it in a hurry.
Miriam arranged for an investigator to review the old case. The original police report was incomplete. Several witness statements were missing, and the accident scene photographs had been sealed after the investigation.
“Why would a routine accident file be sealed?” Audrey asked.
“Because the people involved had influence,” Miriam replied.
The next afternoon, Ronin's attorney arranged a private meeting.
Audrey entered the detention center with the file in her hand.
Ronin looked at her immediately.
“What happened?”
She placed the note against the glass.
“Who was Isabelle?”
His expression changed.
“Where did you get that?”
“Peter mentioned her.”
Ronin closed his eyes.
“She was my first wife.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because I thought it was over.”
“She died.”
“Yes.”
“Was it an accident?”
Ronin looked down.
“I don't know.”
Audrey stared at him.
“You don't know?”
“I was driving that night. We argued. She got out of the car near the bridge. I went after her, but she told me to leave.”
“And you did?”
“Yes.”
“What happened afterward?”
“I heard a crash. By the time I reached the road, another car had hit her vehicle.”
Audrey felt her throat tighten.
“Why didn't you tell the police everything?”
“I did.”
“Then why does Peter say you know the truth?”
Ronin leaned forward.
“Because I found a second set of brake records. Someone had tampered with the car before we left the restaurant.”
“Who?”
“I never found out.”
Audrey looked at the note.
“She wrote that you knew the truth.”
“I knew Peter had threatened her. I knew she was afraid of him. I didn't know he had arranged the accident.”
“Why would he kill his own daughter?”
“Isabelle had discovered his illegal operations. She wanted to report him.”
Audrey felt the pattern becoming clearer.
Peter had destroyed his own daughter to protect his business. He had manipulated Ronin for years. He had used the same methods against Audrey.
“Did you ever tell anyone?”
“I told my attorney. The evidence disappeared.”
“Did you keep looking?”
“For a while.”
“And then?”
Ronin did not answer.
Audrey looked at him.
“You gave up.”
He nodded.
“I was young. Angry. I thought I could survive by becoming the kind of man Peter feared.”
“You became the kind of man he could use.”
Ronin accepted the words.
“Yes.”
She stood.
“There's something else.”
He looked up.
“Peter said you signed the transfer documents.”
“I did.”
“Why?”
“He told me the money was being moved to protect the port operations. He said the foundation was only a temporary route.”
“And you believed him?”
“I wanted to.”
Audrey's voice hardened.
“You knew it was wrong.”
“Yes.”
“Then you are responsible.”
“I know.”
She turned to leave.
“Audrey.”
She stopped.
“I need you to know that I never wanted Celeste.”
“That's not what matters.”
“I was trying to get close to Peter's people.”
“You could have trusted me.”
“I was afraid they would use you.”
“They used me anyway.”
Ronin lowered his head.
Audrey walked out.
In the parking lot, Miriam was waiting with a new document.
“The investigators found something in Isabelle's old apartment.”
“What?”
“A photograph.”
Audrey took it.
It showed Isabelle standing beside a young man.
May you like
The man was Ronin.
And behind them, partly visible in a mirror, stood Douglas Prentiss.
