Chapter 15 - THE WITNESS IN THE MIRROR|
The photograph had been taken months before Isabelle's death.
Ronin stood beside her, smiling in a way Audrey had rarely seen. He looked younger, almost ordinary. Isabelle held his arm.
In the mirror behind them, Douglas Prentiss watched.
Miriam enlarged the image.
“Douglas was present.”
“He told me he didn't know Isabelle.”
“Maybe he lied.”
Audrey looked at the photograph.
“Why would he be involved?”
The investigator assigned to the old case called later that day.
“We found a witness who worked at the restaurant where Isabelle and Ronin argued.”
“Is the witness alive?”
“Yes. Her name is Patricia Moore. She's willing to speak.”
They met Patricia at a small law office.
She was in her seventies now, with careful gray hair and a cane. She studied the photograph before speaking.
“I remember that night.”
“What happened?” Audrey asked.
“Isabelle came in with Ronin. They were arguing about her father. She said she had documents that could put him away.”
“Did Ronin know?”
“He told her to stay quiet until he could arrange protection.”
Patricia looked down.
“Then Douglas arrived.”
Miriam leaned forward.
“What did he say?”
“He told Isabelle that her father wanted to speak with her. She refused. Douglas followed them outside.”
“Did you see what happened after that?”
Patricia nodded slowly.
“I saw a black car following their vehicle.”
Audrey felt cold.
“Was Ronin driving?”
“Yes.”
“Did the car hit them?”
“I heard the crash. Then I saw another vehicle leave.”
“Did you report it?”
“I tried. But a detective told me I had seen nothing. He said I was confused.”
“Who was the detective?”
Patricia gave them a name.
The investigator recognized it.
“He retired after the case.”
Miriam wrote it down.
Patricia continued.
“Isabelle left something with me before she died.”
She reached into her handbag and produced a small envelope.
Inside was a key.
“She said it opened a box in the old apartment building.”
The building had since been renovated, but the storage room remained.
The key opened a narrow metal cabinet. Inside was a notebook, several letters, and a small cassette.
Audrey listened to the recording with Miriam and the investigators.
Isabelle's voice was clear.
“Douglas says my father is planning to remove Ronin. He wants me to convince Ronin to sign the shipping papers. I won't do it. If anything happens to me, the evidence is in the blue folder.”
Another voice followed.
Douglas.
“You should have listened to your father.”
Then Isabelle:
“I am not afraid of him.”
Douglas replied:
“You should be.”
The recording ended.
Miriam looked at Audrey.
“This connects Douglas to the threats.”
“And Peter?”
“We still need the original blue folder.”
The notebook contained a final entry.
I gave the blue folder to someone I trust. If Ronin ever learns the truth, tell him the person closest to him knew everything.
Audrey read the line twice.
“Who was closest to him?”
Miriam looked at the photograph.
“His security chief.”
Eddie Salas.
Audrey called him.
No answer.
She called again.
Still nothing.
Then a message arrived.
Mrs. Keane, do not come home. I need to tell you something about Ronin.
May you like
A second message followed.
I was the one who gave Celeste your place card.
