Chapter 9 - The Recording That Could Destroy Them
Julian produced a small digital recorder.
"I found this in Dad's old safe when I was nineteen."
Damon stared at it.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because Caldwell paid me to keep quiet."
Kate felt sick.
"How much?"
Julian looked ashamed.
"Two million dollars."
Damon closed his eyes.
"You sold the truth about a man's murder."
Julian didn't defend himself.
"I know."
He pressed play.
Static crackled.
Then Vincent Blackwell's voice filled the church.
"Richard, Thomas Bennett is going to the authorities."
Another voice answered.
Richard Caldwell.
"Then stop him."
"I won't authorize murder."
"You already helped create the system that ruined him. Don't pretend you have clean hands."
A long silence followed.
Then Vincent spoke again.
"If anything happens to Thomas, I'm taking everything to the federal government."
The recording ended.
Kate stared at Julian.
"That's it?"
He nodded.
"It proves Caldwell threatened him."
"But it doesn't prove who carried out the murder."
"No."
Damon looked at his brother.
"Why bring us here?"
Julian's eyes filled with tears.
"Because Caldwell wants you dead."
Before anyone could respond, a gunshot shattered a stained-glass window.
Damon pulled Kate behind a stone pillar.
Matteo shouted from outside.
"Everyone down!"
More shots rang out.
Julian dropped to the floor.
Blood spread across his shoulder.
Damon reached him.
"Stay with me."
Julian grabbed his brother's sleeve.
"Don't let him win."
Then he lost consciousness.
The attack lasted less than two minutes.
Matteo's security team helped police secure the area, but the shooters escaped.
Julian survived emergency surgery.
The recorder survived too.
By morning, federal investigators had opened a formal inquiry.
And Kate made a decision.
She would testify.
Not because Damon wanted her to.
May you like
Not because her mother asked her to.
But because she was tired of being afraid.
