Chapter 14 - MARTIN VALE'S LAST MESSAGE
The investigation into Martin Vale’s death moved more slowly.
Police had his handwritten statement.
They had financial records.
But they did not have proof that Lucinda killed him.
Then investigators opened his storage unit’s final locked container.
Inside was a damaged phone.
Forensic technicians recovered several deleted videos.
The last one had been recorded inside a motel room.
Martin sat directly in front of the camera.
He looked exhausted.
“If this is found, Lucinda knows I kept copies.”
He rubbed his face.
“I helped her move the money.”
“I helped create Bellweather.”
“I told myself it was temporary.”
“I told myself Andrew’s family had more money than anyone needed.”
“I was wrong.”
Martin looked off-camera.
“Caroline found out.”
“She gave me one chance to help fix it.”
“I met her.”
“I gave her records.”
“Lucinda learned about the meeting.”
Andrew watched beside Cole.
Martin continued.
“The night Caroline died, Lucinda called me at 9:47.”
“She said, ‘The problem is gone.’”
Andrew closed his eyes.
Martin took a breath.
“I knew what that meant.”
“She ordered me to destroy the account records.”
“I refused.”
“I told her I was leaving.”
Martin looked directly into the camera.
“If I disappear, check the quarry property registered to Bellweather North.”
That was where his body had eventually been found.
Cole paused the video.
“This connects Lucinda to Martin’s disappearance indirectly.”
Andrew looked at her.
“But not enough.”
“Not yet.”
They recovered another clip.
Martin was inside a parking garage.
A black SUV entered the frame behind him.
Lucinda stepped out.
She was visibly angry.
No audio survived.
But another person exited the driver’s side.
Andrew recognized him.
“Thomas.”
Cole looked at him.
“Who?”
“Thomas Bell.”
Thomas had served as Lucinda’s personal driver and security assistant for twelve years.
He had disappeared from the family payroll shortly after Martin resigned.
Cole began searching.
Two days later, Thomas was arrested in Nevada on an unrelated false-identification charge.
Once confronted with the footage, he asked for an attorney.
Then he asked for immunity.
His statement shattered what remained of Lucinda’s defense.
Thomas admitted driving Lucinda to meet Martin.
He admitted helping transport Martin’s body after Lucinda struck him during an argument.
He also admitted delivering the threatening photograph of Alex to the estate gate.
Andrew stared at Cole.
“She ordered that?”
“Yes.”
“While she knew Alex had already watched his mother die?”
“Yes.”
Andrew looked toward the interrogation room.
Thomas sat behind the glass.
“What else did he say?”
Cole hesitated.
“He says Lucinda planned to take Alex.”
Andrew’s face changed.
“When?”
“The night she cut the ribbon.”
Andrew remembered her handbag.
Her coat.
Her claim that she was leaving.
Cole continued.
“She had prepared forged travel documents.”
Andrew felt sick.
“Where was she taking him?”
“Canada first.”
“Then Switzerland.”
Andrew whispered.
“Why?”
Cole looked at him.
“Because as long as Alex remained under her control, she believed she could control the trust.”
Andrew finally understood why Lucinda had been so desperate to silence him.
May you like
Alex was not merely a witness.
He had also been the prize.
