Chapter 3 - THE NAME BEHIND THE LIE
Roman listened to the recording three times.
By the third, he no longer felt shocked.
He felt hollow.
His father had confronted Elizabeth about financial accounts, missing documents, and a man named Adrian Voss.
Elizabeth had threatened to expose Daniel Kane's illegal business dealings if he tried to stop her.
Then came the sentence Roman couldn't forget.
“He isn't your son alone, Daniel. Remember that.”
Roman turned off the recorder.
Arthur sat beside him.
Neither spoke for several minutes.
Finally, Roman asked, “Who was Adrian Voss?”
Arthur frowned.
“I remember the name.”
“From where?”
“He used to visit your father.”
“When?”
“Before your mother's accident.”
Roman stared at the tape.
“What happened after you saw her at the lake house?”
Arthur rubbed his forehead.
“I went to your father. He told me never to speak about it.”
“Did he explain why?”
“No.”
“Then why did you obey?”
Arthur looked at him sadly.
“Because he told me your life depended on it.”
Roman looked away.
He wanted to be angry.
At Arthur.
At his father.
At everyone who had allowed him to mourn a woman who might still be alive.
But he couldn't ignore the fear in Arthur's voice.
Whatever had happened twenty-two years ago, it hadn't ended.
His phone vibrated.
Marco Bell, his chief of security, had sent a message.
Sir, Lily Carter has been followed leaving the estate.
Roman stood immediately.
Arthur looked up.
“What is it?”
Roman grabbed his coat.
“Someone's watching Lily.”
Arthur's face changed.
“Then go.”
Roman paused.
He looked at the old man.
“I'll come back.”
Arthur smiled faintly.
“I know you will.”
Roman left the storage facility with the recorder in his pocket and a growing certainty that his mother's disappearance was connected to the people now watching his maid.
May you like
He just didn't understand how.
Not yet.
