Chapter 7 - Camille’s Second Phone
Camille made the first move.
At 11:23 a.m., she called Grace Holloway.
Not Isabella.
Grace put the call on speaker.
Camille whispered, “I need immunity.”
Isabella’s face hardened.
Grace said, “I cannot give you immunity.”
“Then get someone who can.”
“What are you offering?”
“Julian’s messages.”
“We have messages.”
“Not these.”
A pause.
“Where are you?”
“Bellhaven.”
“Are you safe?”
Camille laughed quietly.
“No.”
Isabella finally spoke.
“You weren’t worried whether I was safe.”
Silence.
Camille began crying.
“Isabella?”
“Yes.”
“Oh my God.”
“Don’t.”
“I thought—”
“You thought I drowned exactly where you helped lock me.”
Camille’s breathing became ragged.
“I didn’t know the compartment would flood that fast.”
“You handed him the strap.”
“Yes.”
“You kissed him afterward.”
Silence.
Isabella’s voice became ice.
“Is the baby his?”
“Yes.”
The answer hurt less than expected.
Maybe because attempted murder had already occupied the space where ordinary heartbreak belonged.
“How long?”
“Two years.”
Isabella closed her eyes.
Two years.
During engagement dinners.
Birthdays.
Dress fittings.
Christmas.
Camille continued.
“Julian said he was leaving you.”
“After inheriting my life?”
“He said the trust was unfair.”
“Of course.”
“He said Uncle Victor always intended our branch to receive half.”
“That was Charles talking through him.”
“I know that now.”
Isabella laughed.
“Now.”
Camille sobbed.
“Dad showed me the trust clause.”
“And?”
“He said if the Orion deal closed, Laurent Oceanic would finally be stable.”
“You mean he would get control.”
“Yes.”
“And you?”
Camille’s voice dropped.
“I would inherit if something happened to you.”
“You knew.”
“Yes.”
The room went silent.
Even Grace looked disgusted.
Isabella asked, “Did you intend to kill me?”
Camille took a long time.
“Yes.”
The honesty landed like a physical blow.
Maria closed her eyes.
Camille continued.
“I told myself the yacht would sink. That it would look like an accident. That I wouldn’t have to see—”
“You did see.”
“I know.”
“You watched.”
“I know.”
“You held Julian.”
Camille began crying harder.
“Because I thought if I let go I would scream.”
Isabella nearly hung up.
Grace stopped her with one hand.
“What do you have?” Grace asked.
Camille forced herself to breathe.
“A second phone. Dad doesn’t know I kept it.”
“What’s on it?”
“Julian talking about Victor.”
Isabella froze.
“What?”
“He told me your father’s death was the first time Charles proved he could solve a succession problem.”
Maria stood straighter.
“Recordings?”
“Voice notes.”
“Why would Julian send that?”
“He was drunk. We fought. I saved everything.”
Grace looked at Agent Ruiz.
He began writing.
Camille continued.
“There are messages about Maria too.”
Maria’s face changed.
“What messages?”
“Dad knew you could walk.”
Silence.
Maria gripped the table.
“How?”
“He saw you in the greenhouse seven years ago.”
Maria stared.
She had believed the deception remained intact.
Camille continued.
“He told Julian you were pretending.”
“Why didn’t he expose me?”
“Because he wanted to know what you were waiting for.”
Maria’s face lost color.
The wheelchair had not made her invisible for as long as she believed.
Charles had been watching the watcher.
Camille whispered, “Dad said Maria would eventually lead them to Victor’s evidence.”
Isabella looked at the brass key.
“That’s why they put her in the cabin with me.”
Maria understood.
“It wasn’t only to kill a witness.”
“They wanted the evidence to die with you.”
“Yes.”
Camille said, “They searched Maria’s rooms twice.”
“Did they find the medicine?”
“I don’t know.”
Maria looked terrified for the first time.
Agent Ruiz asked, “Camille, can you leave Bellhaven?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Julian took my car keys.”
“Call 911.”
“My father controls local security.”
“Not police.”
“I’m afraid.”
Isabella almost said good.
Then stopped herself.
Camille had helped murder her.
But the child inside Camille had not.
Grace asked, “Can you get somewhere with other people?”
“The family chapel.”
“Go there.”
“Why?”
“Cameras. Staff traffic.”
Camille whispered, “Dad will know.”
“He already knows something changed.”
Camille moved.
Through the call they heard footsteps.
A door.
Wind.
Then Julian’s voice.
“Camille.”
She stopped breathing.
“Where are you going?”
“Chapel.”
“Why?”
“To pray.”
Julian laughed softly.
“You should.”
The line stayed open inside her coat.
Julian continued.
“Give me the phone.”
“I don’t have one.”
“Camille.”
A scuffle.
Camille cried out.
Isabella stood.
“Julian!”
Silence on the other end.
Then Julian’s voice, distant.
He had heard Isabella through the phone.
“Bella?”
Everything stopped.
Camille whispered, “Run.”
The call disconnected.
Julian now knew Isabella was alive.
May you like
The hidden advantage was gone.
And Camille was trapped inside Bellhaven with two men who had already tried to kill once.
