Chapter 6 - THE TRUTH AT THE FERRY LANDING
“What had my father done?”
Arthur looked at the ferry ticket in Catherine's hand.
For several seconds, he seemed unable to speak.
Then he said, “He ordered the attack.”
Victor stood abruptly.
“That's absurd.”
Vargas closed his eyes.
Sokolov turned away.
Catherine stared at Arthur.
“My father ordered men to attack his own home?”
“Yes.”
“While his children were inside?”
“He believed you had already been taken to safety.”
Catherine's fingers tightened around the ticket.
“Believed?”
Arthur swallowed.
“Your father was losing control of his business. Daniel had discovered evidence of illegal payments, extortion, and missing shipping funds. He was preparing to give everything to Eleanor Price.”
“And my father wanted to stop him.”
“Yes.”
“So he burned down the house?”
“He arranged for a controlled evacuation and destruction of certain records. Giovanni Costello offered men to help.”
Catherine glanced at Victor.
He looked stunned.
Arthur continued.
“The plan was supposed to happen after you and Daniel left. But Daniel refused to go.”
“Why?”
“Because he believed your father had ordered the elimination of several employees who threatened to cooperate with investigators.”
Catherine remembered a man who used to visit their house.
His name was Thomas Bell.
He had been a shipping accountant.
One summer, he disappeared.
Her father told her he had moved to Florida.
She had believed him.
“What happened to Thomas Bell?” she asked.
Arthur looked down.
“He was killed.”
The words made her stomach turn.
“And my father ordered it?”
Arthur nodded.
Catherine gripped the table.
She wanted to remember her father as the man who taught her to swim.
The man who bought her a blue bicycle.
The man who sat beside her bed reading mystery novels when she was sick.
But she was beginning to understand that love did not erase cruelty.
And the fact that a man loved his children did not mean he had never destroyed someone else's family.
“Continue,” she said.
Arthur looked miserable.
“The men Giovanni sent arrived early. Daniel confronted them at the west gate. Your father ordered me to keep that gate closed until he could reach Daniel.”
“You trapped us.”
“Yes.”
“You heard us screaming.”
Arthur's eyes filled.
“Yes.”
Catherine stepped away.
She couldn't look at him.
The ballroom was quiet except for the faint sound of rain beginning against the windows.
Victor moved toward her.
“Catherine, sit down.”
She shook her head.
“I need to hear it.”
Arthur continued.
“Daniel escaped through the service path. Your father followed him to the ferry landing. Eleanor Price was waiting there with a copy of the ledger.”
“Did my father hurt her?”
“No. But he demanded the documents.”
“And Daniel?”
“He refused.”
Arthur's hands trembled.
“I arrived after midnight. Your father was arguing with Daniel near the dock. Giovanni's men were waiting by the road.”
Catherine looked at the ferry ticket.
“What happened?”
“Daniel threatened to release everything. Your father told him that doing so would destroy the family.”
“He'd already destroyed the family.”
Arthur nodded.
“Yes.”
Catherine waited.
Arthur's voice became strained.
“Your father tried to take the briefcase. There was a struggle.”
Vargas lowered his head.
“Nikolai fell against the dock railing. It broke.”
Catherine whispered, “He fell into the water?”
“Yes.”
“Did Daniel push him?”
“No.”
Arthur answered immediately.
“He didn't.”
Catherine stared.
“You're certain?”
“I saw it happen. Your father lost his balance.”
“Then why was his death described as murder?”
Arthur looked toward Vargas.
“Because we allowed everyone to believe the attack killed him.”
Catherine felt sick.
“You protected his reputation.”
“We protected his businesses,” Vargas said quietly. “And ourselves.”
She looked at the three men who had knelt before her.
For the first time, she understood the depth of their guilt.
They hadn't come simply to honor her.
They had come because the past was finally reaching them.
“And what happened to Daniel?”
Arthur looked down.
“He disappeared after the incident.”
“Was anyone sent after him?”
Arthur hesitated.
Vargas struck his cane against the floor.
“Answer her.”
“Yes,” Arthur whispered.
“By whom?”
“Giovanni.”
Victor's face tightened.
“My father?”
Arthur nodded.
“Giovanni believed Daniel had the original ledger. He offered money to anyone who could retrieve it.”
Victor pressed a hand against his mouth.
Catherine turned toward him.
“Did you know?”
“No.”
She studied him.
He looked devastated.
And for once, she believed him.
But belief did not mean forgiveness.
“You became your father in ways you didn't even recognize,” she said.
Victor looked at her.
The words seemed to reach someplace his anger couldn't protect.
“I know,” he whispered.
She looked away.
Tommy approached the table.
“Mrs. Costello, there's something you should see.”
He held a small security monitor.
The screen showed the upstairs hallway.
Anna stood near Catherine's bedroom.
Khloe Harrington was beside her.
They were arguing.
Victor frowned.
“What is Khloe doing?”
Tommy increased the volume.
Khloe's voice came through the speaker.
“I told you, I didn't know what was inside.”
Anna replied, “Then why did you take it?”
“Because Victor asked me to!”
Catherine leaned closer.
Khloe held a small black leather case.
A case Catherine recognized.
It had belonged to Daniel.
She had searched for it after the fire.
For years, she thought it had been destroyed.
“What is that?” Victor demanded.
Tommy looked at him.
“Miss Harrington was trying to remove it from the guesthouse.”
Catherine turned sharply.
“Why was it there?”
Victor stared at the screen.
“I don't know.”
Catherine looked at him.
“Don't.”
He shook his head.
“I swear.”
Tommy spoke into his radio.
“Ask them to come downstairs. Don't touch the case.”
Minutes later, Khloe entered the ballroom carrying it.
Her face was pale.
“I didn't steal anything,” she said immediately.
Catherine held out her hand.
“Then give it to me.”
Khloe hesitated.
“Victor said it belonged to his father.”
Victor stared at her.
“I never told you that.”
Khloe looked confused.
“Yes, you did.”
“When?”
“Last month. When you asked me to move some things from the guesthouse.”
Victor's expression changed.
“I was in Boston last month.”
Khloe froze.
Catherine watched her closely.
“Who gave you the instructions?”
Khloe swallowed.
“Your business manager. Stephen Marsh.”
Victor turned pale.
Marsh had managed his finances for eleven years.
He had access to his offices, his accounts, and his private records.
Catherine opened the case.
Inside lay a folded gray coat.
A leather notebook.
And a child's drawing.
Her breath caught.
The drawing showed two children standing beside a ferry.
Above them, in uneven blue letters, were the words:
Katie and Danny, always.
Catherine remembered drawing it for Daniel when she was nine.
He had kept it tucked inside his schoolbooks.
She lifted the notebook.
The first page contained a list of dates and payments.
The next held names.
Some were familiar.
Others meant nothing.
Then she reached the final entry.
It was dated six weeks earlier.
Beside the date was an address in Manhattan.
Below it were five words.
Stephen Marsh reports directly to A.K.
Catherine slowly raised her eyes.
Arthur Kensington stood motionless.
Victor looked from the notebook to the older man.
“Arthur?”
Arthur didn't answer.
Catherine held up the page.
“You told us Daniel didn't trust you.”
Arthur's expression emptied.
“He doesn't.”
“Then why was my husband's business manager reporting to you?”
Arthur looked toward the ballroom doors.
And for the first time that evening, Catherine saw the truth in his face.
May you like
Not guilt.
Calculation.
