Chapter 9 - THE WITNESS WHO WAITED FIVE YEARS
His name was Arthur Bell.
He was sixty-three.
A retired fire investigator.
He had worked on the original warehouse case.
Now he stood in a private lounge beside the ballroom, holding a folder.
When I entered, he looked at me with unmistakable sadness.
“Mrs. Hale.”
I swallowed.
“Vivian.”
He nodded.
“Vivian.”
Gideon remained beside the door.
Arthur gestured toward a chair.
“Please sit.”
I did.
Arthur opened the folder.
“Five years ago, I investigated the fire that injured you.”
I nodded.
“I remember.”
He looked down.
“There were irregularities.”
My stomach tightened.
“What kind?”
“Safety systems had been disabled. Maintenance records were incomplete. Certain documents disappeared before the investigation concluded.”
I stared.
“Did you report that?”
“Yes.”
“What happened?”
Arthur sighed.
“The case was closed with an accidental cause.”
I looked at him.
“Do you believe it was accidental?”
He hesitated.
“I believe the available evidence did not justify the certainty expressed in the final report.”
My hands began shaking.
Arthur continued.
“Recently, additional financial records came to light.”
He placed a document in front of me.
An insurance payment.
A company connected to Preston.
A transfer made shortly after the fire.
I stared.
“Preston received money?”
Arthur nodded.
“An entity he controlled received a substantial payment.”
I felt sick.
“Did he know the fire would happen?”
Arthur looked at me carefully.
“We don't know.”
I closed my eyes.
He continued.
“But investigators are examining whether financial misconduct contributed to the circumstances surrounding the fire.”
For several seconds, I couldn't speak.
Then I whispered:
“I nearly died.”
Arthur nodded.
“I know.”
“I saved him.”
“Yes.”
I looked up.
“And he spent five years telling me my scars were disgusting.”
Arthur's eyes filled.
“I'm sorry.”
I looked down at my hands.
For years, I'd believed the fire had taken my beauty.
Now I understood something worse.
Preston had taken my trust.
Gideon approached.
“Vivian?”
I looked at him.
“Can we leave?”
He nodded immediately.
“Of course.”
He offered his hand.
I took it.
And walked out of the lounge.
May you like
Not because I was afraid of the truth.
Because I needed a moment to remember how to breathe.
