Chapter 8 - THE SECRET INSIDE THE BROKEN WATCH
Vincent ended the video.
Nicholas stared at the dark screen.
For a moment, nobody moved.
Then Nicholas looked down at the silver pocket watch.
Its cracked glass reflected the kitchen light.
He opened the back again.
The folded paper with the numbers had already been removed.
But now he examined the inner casing more carefully.
There was a thin seam beneath the hinge.
A second compartment.
He pressed it with his thumbnail.
Nothing happened.
Thomas stepped forward.
“May I?”
Nicholas handed him the watch.
The old butler turned it over.
Then he pressed a tiny raised dot beside the winding stem.
A narrow panel opened.
Inside was a photograph.
Isabella Bellomo.
She stood beside two young boys.
Nicholas and Vincent.
Behind the photograph was another folded paper.
Nicholas removed it.
It was a medical transfer authorization.
Dated twenty-six years earlier.
Patient: Isabella Bellomo.
Requested physician: Dr. Harold Whitmore.
Authorized by: Arthur Bellomo.
Nicholas stared at his father's signature.
His face changed.
“Dad transferred her.”
Rose nodded.
“Yes.”
Nicholas read the second page.
It listed medications Isabella had been prescribed.
Several were crossed out.
Beside them was a handwritten instruction.
Discontinue pending review.
Nicholas looked toward Rose.
“Who wrote this?”
Rose's eyes filled.
“Harold Whitmore.”
Charlotte pressed her hands together.
Nicholas continued reading.
There was another signature.
A witness.
Thomas Bennett.
Nicholas slowly turned.
“Thomas.”
The butler closed his eyes.
Nicholas's voice cracked.
“You signed this?”
Thomas nodded.
“Yes, sir.”
“Why?”
“Your father told me the doctors had recommended it.”
Nicholas shook his head.
“You knew Mother was dying.”
“Yes.”
“And you helped move her away from the physicians who were treating her?”
Thomas began crying.
“I didn't understand what was happening.”
Nicholas stared.
“You never asked?”
Thomas looked down.
“I should have.”
Nicholas stepped away.
For years, Thomas had been the one person he trusted with Ethan.
The man who had served his family longer than almost anyone alive.
And now Nicholas was learning that Thomas had signed a document connected to his mother's death.
The betrayal hurt.
But then Thomas spoke.
“Your mother left me something.”
Nicholas stopped.
“What?”
Thomas reached into his jacket.
He removed a small rosary.
The beads were worn.
A silver cross hung from the end.
Nicholas recognized it immediately.
“Mother's rosary.”
Thomas nodded.
“She gave it to me the week before she died.”
Nicholas took it.
“She used to pray with this every night.”
Thomas's voice broke.
“She asked me to make sure you received it when you were ready.”
Nicholas looked devastated.
“Ready for what?”
“To know that she loved you enough to fight for the truth, even when nobody else would.”
Nicholas closed his hand around the rosary.
For several moments, he couldn't speak.
Then Vincent laughed from the doorway.
“How touching.”
Nicholas turned.
Vincent's expression hardened.
“But none of that changes what happens next.”
Daniel stepped closer.
“Your men are surrounded.”
Vincent glanced outside.
He had underestimated Nicholas's security.
Several guards now stood beyond the porch.
Vincent's face tightened.
Nicholas approached him.
“Tell your men to stand down.”
Vincent stared.
“Or what?”
“Or you'll spend the rest of your life explaining why you kidnapped our father.”
Vincent laughed.
“You think the authorities will believe you?”
Nicholas held up the blue book.
“They'll believe this.”
Vincent's expression changed.
“And they'll believe the medical records. The financial transfers. The forged guardianship agreement.”
Vincent looked toward Charlotte.
“You helped arrange that.”
Charlotte nodded.
“I did.”
He smiled.
“Then you'll go down with me.”
Charlotte took a breath.
“Maybe.”
Vincent stared.
She looked directly at him.
“But I'm done lying for you.”
Nicholas glanced at her.
For the first time, he saw something besides fear and manipulation.
Responsibility.
Vincent shook his head.
“You think confessing makes you noble?”
“No,” Charlotte replied. “I think it makes me honest.”
Vincent's smile disappeared.
Nicholas stepped forward.
“Where's Dad?”
Vincent looked toward the ocean.
Then he said quietly, “The old ferry terminal.”
Daniel immediately spoke into his radio.
But Vincent shook his head.
“He won't be there much longer.”
Nicholas stared.
“What have you done?”
Vincent's face tightened.
“Nothing yet.”
“Vincent.”
His brother suddenly looked exhausted.
“You don't understand. The men who financed the hospital scheme never disappeared. Their families still control parts of those accounts.”
Nicholas frowned.
“Who?”
Vincent swallowed.
“People who will destroy both of us if the ledger becomes public.”
Nicholas held his gaze.
“Then they can explain themselves in court.”
Vincent laughed bitterly.
“You still think there's a way out that doesn't cost anyone?”
Nicholas looked toward the family photograph on the staircase.
Then at Rose and Charlotte.
He thought of Ethan waiting at home.
“There has to be.”
Vincent's expression softened for one brief moment.
“You sound like Mother.”
Nicholas nodded.
“Good.”
Daniel received confirmation from his men.
The old ferry terminal had been located.
Two vehicles were leaving.
One contained Arthur.
Nicholas moved immediately.
Vincent's men surrendered when they realized they were outnumbered.
Vincent himself remained standing on the porch.
He looked at Nicholas.
“You can still give me the book.”
Nicholas shook his head.
“No.”
“Then everything comes out.”
“Yes.”
“Even what Dad did?”
Nicholas's voice hardened.
“Especially what Dad did.”
Vincent stared at him.
Then, unexpectedly, he stepped aside.
“Go get him.”
Nicholas hesitated.
Vincent looked away.
“I never wanted him dead.”
Nicholas studied his brother.
“Then help me bring him home.”
Vincent swallowed.
For a moment, I thought he might agree.
But then he shook his head.
“I'm too far into this.”
Nicholas left with Daniel.
I accompanied Rose and Charlotte in a second vehicle.
Thomas remained with the security team.
At the ferry terminal, the morning sky was gray.
An old passenger boat rested beside the dock.
Two men stood near a black SUV.
And beside the vehicle sat Arthur Bellomo.
Alive.
Nicholas ran toward him.
“Dad!”
Arthur lifted his head.
“Nicky.”
Nicholas dropped to his knees beside the wheelchair.
For a moment, neither man spoke.
Then Nicholas embraced him.
Arthur began crying.
“I'm sorry, son.”
Nicholas held him tightly.
“We'll talk later. We're getting you home.”
But Arthur shook his head.
“No.”
Nicholas pulled back.
“What?”
Arthur gripped his wrist.
“You need to know the rest.”
Nicholas looked at him.
“Dad, we found the book. We found the watch.”
Arthur's eyes filled.
“Then you know about Isabella.”
Nicholas nodded.
“You signed the transfer.”
Arthur closed his eyes.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Arthur's voice broke.
“Because Harold Whitmore convinced me he could save her. He said the original doctors were making her worse.”
Nicholas stared.
“And you believed him?”
“I wanted to.”
Arthur looked down.
“By the time I understood what he'd done, she was gone.”
Nicholas's jaw tightened.
“Then why didn't you expose him?”
Arthur began crying.
“Because he threatened to reveal where the hospital money had gone.”
Nicholas looked devastated.
“You protected the money.”
Arthur shook his head.
“I told myself I was protecting you boys.”
Nicholas stood.
“You protected yourself.”
Arthur didn't deny it.
Then he looked toward me.
“Emma.”
I froze.
Arthur reached into his coat.
He withdrew a small envelope.
“Your sister's hospital bills.”
I stared.
“How do you know about my sister?”
Arthur's eyes filled.
“Because your family has been connected to mine longer than you understand.”
Nicholas turned.
“What are you talking about?”
Arthur looked at the envelope.
Then at the blue book in Nicholas's hand.
May you like
His voice trembled.
“NICHOLAS, EMMA'S MOTHER WAS ONE OF THE CHILDREN STOLEN FROM ST. AGNES—AND THE MONEY YOUR MOTHER SET ASIDE FOR HER FAMILY HAS BEEN SITTING IN OUR ACCOUNTS FOR FORTY YEARS.”
