Chapter 5 - The Web of Lies
Julian stepped onto the stone patio, locking the path behind us. The moonlight reflected off the cold, dark steel of a silenced handgun held low at his hip.
"I told you she was going to be a problem, Vic," Julian said, his voice flat and devoid of emotion. "She called someone. I saw her on the phone near the lobby stairs before she ran up here."
Victor swore loudly under his breath, his eyes darting frantically toward the dark tree line behind Julian. The calm, calculated con man was beginning to fray around the edges.
"Did you get the luggage loaded?" Victor demanded.
"The car is running at the North gate," Julian replied. "But we have maybe ten minutes before police show up if the old woman made a call."
Kathleen was shaking violently now, staring at the gun in Julian’s hand, then up at the stranger holding her arm. "Victor? Who... who are you? What about our life? What about our plans?"
"Our life?" Victor scoffed, glancing down at her with cold contempt. "There was no 'our life,' Kathleen. You were a target. A gullible, lonely widow sitting on a five-million-dollar real estate portfolio and a three-million-dollar liquid trust."
Every word was like a physical strike to my daughter’s heart. I watched her spirit shatter in real time, the illusion of her fairy-tale second marriage disintegrating into dust.
"You targeted her," I said, drawing their attention to me, stepping slightly to the left to place myself between Julian's line of fire and my daughter. "The chance meeting at the software convention in Chicago. The sudden interest in her father's estate. It was all staged."
"Give the old lady a prize," Julian muttered, keeping his eyes on the trail. "Vic’s been tracking your family's financial filings for two years, ever since your husband passed away. It was ridiculously easy. A little charming attention, a few fake references, a forged background check... and your daughter was practically begging him to marry her."
"Why the name Victor Rossi?" I asked, keeping my voice steady, trying to buy every precious second I could. "Who was the woman in the wallet, Victor? The woman with the baby?"
Victor’s eyes flared with a sudden, dark rage. "That is none of your business!"
"It is my business," I retorted sharply. "Because you left that wallet under the head table. You were sloppy, Victor. A six-year-old child exposed your whole pathetic scheme because you couldn't even keep your real life separate from your lies."
"Shut up!" Victor shouted, raising his hand as if to strike me.
"Don't you touch her!" Kathleen screamed, suddenly finding her courage. She drove her heavy bridal heel down onto Victor’s foot with all the weight in her body.
Victor howled in pain, momentarily loosening his grip on her wrist.
Kathleen shoved him backward with all her strength. He stumbled over the edge of the wooden bench, crashing onto the stone floor of the pavilion.
"Mom, run!" Kathleen yelled, lunging toward me.
"Grab her!" Victor roared from the ground.
Julian raised the gun, stepping forward to intercept Kathleen.
I didn't think. I didn't hesitate. I threw myself forward, grabbing the heavy wooden display easel holding the flower-adorned welcome sign near the pavilion entrance, and shoved it with all my strength straight into Julian’s chest.
The heavy oak easel and glass frame crashed into Julian, sending him sprawling backward onto the gravel trail. The gun flew out of his hand, skidding across the stone patio toward the dark edge of the cliff.
"Kathleen, move!" I screamed.
May you like
We turned and bolted toward the pine grove trail, but Victor was already back on his feet.
He tackled Kathleen from behind, sending them both crashing down onto the damp grass at the edge of the woods.
