Chapter 11 - THE PRICE OF A CASTELLANE PROMISE
The investigation widened.
Martin Bellman was questioned.
Richard Bellman's old companies were audited.
Several former inspectors agreed to cooperate.
Nikolai's businesses came under scrutiny.
He lost a major municipal contract.
A lender withdrew financing.
Two partners sued.
His board demanded he stop cooperating.
Nikolai refused.
Then the threats began.
A brick through his office window.
A warning delivered to his driver.
A photograph of Elena leaving her new workplace.
Nikolai called Maya immediately.
He did not call Elena first.
That mattered.
He understood that frightening her with information he could not yet explain would not protect her.
Maya coordinated with investigators and Elena's security adviser.
Elena was informed.
She chose to stay with Sophie temporarily.
Then she called Nikolai.
"Are you all right?"
"Yes."
"Don't lie."
He smiled faintly.
"I'm tired."
"That I believe."
Silence.
Then Elena said:
"I heard you lost the city contract."
"Yes."
"Because you opened the files."
"Yes."
"Do you regret it?"
Nikolai looked around his office.
Eleven years earlier, he had chosen money over questions.
Now he was losing money because he had finally asked them.
"No."
Elena's voice softened.
"Good."
He closed his eyes.
That single word meant more than he wanted it to.
***
Three days later, Nikolai received a sealed envelope.
Inside was a photograph of Arthur Ashford.
Alive.
Taken eleven years earlier.
Standing outside a warehouse.
Beside Martin Bellman.
On the back were four words:
HE WASN'T ALONE THAT NIGHT.
Nikolai stared.
The official report said Arthur had fallen while inspecting the building alone.
If the photograph was genuine, someone had lied.
He gave it to investigators.
Then he called Elena.
"I have something you should see."
She arrived with Maya.
Nikolai placed the photograph on the table.
Elena stared.
Her father.
Alive.
Smiling faintly.
The image had been taken only hours before his death.
Then she noticed the background.
A white delivery truck.
The company name was partially obscured.
But she recognized the logo.
Pierce Commercial Services.
Julian's father's old company.
Elena felt cold.
"Julian's family was involved."
Nikolai nodded.
"Possibly."
She looked at him.
"Why didn't you tell me before?"
"I only received it today."
She studied his face.
Then nodded.
For once, the explanation was enough.
But the photograph raised a terrible possibility.
Julian had not simply been hired to watch her because of Arthur's records.
May you like
His family might have been involved in Arthur's death from the beginning.
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