Chapter 17 - Midnight at the Chalet
At 11:52 p.m., Ryan drove alone toward the chalet.
That was what the watcher saw.
What the watcher did not see was the transmitter taped beneath Ryan’s undershirt.
Ortiz hated the plan.
Maya hated it more.
Ryan had agreed to one condition.
He would not improvise.
He parked.
The front door was open.
Inside, only the fireplace burned.
“Douglas?”
No answer.
Ryan entered.
The old iron key sat on the dining table.
The same key that had fallen from Emma’s apron.
Beside it lay the black ledger.
Ryan approached slowly.
“Where are you?”
A voice came from the hallway.
“Right here.”
Celeste stepped from the shadows.
Ryan stared.
“You sent the messages?”
“No.”
“Then what are you doing here?”
“Douglas sent me too.”
She held up her phone.
Her message read:
BRING NORA’S STORAGE RECORDING OR RYAN GETS EVERYTHING.
Ryan laughed bitterly.
“He’s making us destroy each other.”
“He always did.”
A door closed behind them.
Douglas Vane entered from the kitchen.
He held no gun.
That somehow made him more frightening.
He wore a camel coat and leather gloves.
“You both look exhausted.”
Ryan’s rage rose.
Douglas smiled.
“Still impulsive.”
“Where’s the rest of Nora’s evidence?”
“You’re looking at it.”
Ryan glanced at the ledger.
“Why keep it?”
“Insurance.”
Celeste laughed.
“Victor taught everyone that word.”
Douglas looked at her.
“Victor was useful until he became emotional.”
“He kidnapped Emma.”
“He panicked.”
Ryan stepped closer.
“You ordered Nora taken.”
Douglas shrugged.
“I ordered a delay.”
“A delay with restraints?”
“I did not select methods.”
“You ordered them to leave her alive in a ravine.”
Douglas’s face remained calm.
“I advised people who had already committed serious crimes not to compound their exposure.”
Celeste stared at him.
“You said if we rescued her, we all went to prison.”
“That was accurate.”
“You let her die.”
Douglas looked at Celeste.
“So did you.”
The words broke something.
Celeste’s eyes filled with rage.
Ryan watched her hands.
“Don’t.”
She turned on him.
“Don’t what?”
“Give him what he wants.”
Douglas smiled.
“Your brother finally learned restraint.”
Ryan ignored him.
“Why did you bring us here?”
Douglas pointed to the ledger.
“Because there are three copies of damaging evidence.”
“The codicil.”
“Nora’s recording.”
“And this.”
Celeste whispered, “You want a trade.”
“I want finality.”
Ryan said, “Police already have Victor’s body-camera video.”
For the first time, Douglas’s expression changed.
A fraction.
“You’re lying.”
Ryan saw it.
“No.”
Douglas looked at Celeste.
She went pale.
Ryan continued.
“They have you telling Celeste to leave Nora.”
Douglas stared at him.
Then smiled again.
“That video will create arguments. Not certainty.”
“Victor will testify.”
“A kidnapper protecting himself.”
“Keene will testify.”
“A corrupt notary protecting himself.”
“Mrs. Palmer.”
“A frightened employee.”
Ryan stepped closer.
“And you.”
Douglas’s smile faded.
“What about me?”
“You keep talking.”
Silence.
Douglas glanced around the room.
Ryan knew he was looking for surveillance.
The wire under Ryan’s shirt suddenly felt enormous.
Douglas approached.
“Take off your coat.”
Ryan hesitated.
Celeste understood.
“Ryan…”
Douglas’s eyes hardened.
“Now.”
Ryan removed his coat.
Douglas patted the pockets.
Then his chest.
His fingers found the transmitter.
For half a second nobody moved.
Douglas tore it free and crushed it beneath his shoe.
“You disappoint me.”
Ryan’s heart raced.
The police had heard enough to know he was compromised.
But would they move now?
Douglas looked toward Celeste.
“Lock the door.”
She didn’t.
“Celeste.”
“No.”
His voice sharpened.
“Lock it.”
She stared at him.
For thirty years, Ryan realized, his sister had obeyed men who controlled what she feared losing.
First their father’s approval.
Then Douglas’s money.
Then her own secrets.
Celeste walked to the door.
And opened it wider.
“No.”
Douglas’s expression changed.
“You stupid woman.”
Celeste smiled through tears.
“Nora told me you’d sacrifice me first.”
“She was manipulative.”
“She was right.”
Douglas moved toward the ledger.
Ryan reached it first.
Douglas grabbed his arm.
Ryan shoved him away.
A struggle erupted.
The ledger fell.
Celeste snatched it.
Douglas struck Ryan across the mouth.
Ryan stumbled.
Old instinct screamed:
Hit back.
Destroy him.
He raised his fist.
Then saw Emma in his mind.
Her face when he slammed the counter.
Ryan lowered his hand.
Douglas laughed.
Then Celeste screamed.
Douglas had turned toward her.
She backed into the hallway clutching the ledger.
“You want this?”
“Give it to me.”
“No.”
“Celeste.”
“You owned my debt.”
“Yes.”
“You buried Nora’s audit.”
“Yes.”
“You told Victor to move her body.”
Douglas stopped.
Ryan stared.
There.
The admission.
Douglas realized it too.
He lunged.
Celeste threw the ledger toward Ryan.
Douglas chased it.
The front door exploded inward.
“POLICE!”
Ortiz entered with armed officers.
Douglas froze.
Celeste lifted both hands.
Ryan stood beside the fallen ledger.
Ortiz looked at him.
“You were told not to improvise.”
Ryan wiped blood from his lip.
“I didn’t hit him.”
Despite everything, Ortiz almost smiled.
Then an officer opened the ledger.
Inside the front cover was a small memory card taped beneath black leather.
Celeste stared.
“I never knew that was there.”
Ryan understood.
Nora had hidden one final piece of evidence inside the evidence everyone was chasing.
Ortiz bagged the card.
Douglas’s face finally lost all composure.
“Whatever is on that card is inadmissible without foundation.”
Maya, arriving behind police, answered from the doorway.
“You can make that argument at arraignment.”
Douglas looked toward Celeste.
“You think they’ll spare you?”
Celeste looked at him.
“No.”
May you like
Then she held out her hands for the cuffs.
“I think I’m done letting you decide what happens next.”
