Chapter 10 - Six MinutesEmily didn't run from the accusation.
“Yes.”
“You were there.”
“Yes.”
“You told me you weren't.”
“I told you I wasn't working that night.”
“That's not the same thing.”
“No.”
“Why did you come?”
“Robert called me.”
“When?”
“Ten minutes before he collapsed.”
“Why?”
“He sounded scared.”
“Of who?”
Emily looked at Richard.
“Your mother.”
Richard stared.
Emily continued:
“He told me Eleanor had admitted drugging him.”
“Why?”
“To stop him leaving.”
“That matches Margaret.”
“Yes.”
“What happened when you arrived?”
“I found Margaret crying in the hallway.”
“Victoria?”
“Inside the bedroom.”
“Mom?”
“Also inside.”
“Dad?”
“On the floor.”
“Alive?”
“Yes.”
Richard's throat tightened.
“What did you do?”
“I called 911.”
Richard frowned.
“Victoria made the call.”
“No.”
“I did.”
The official emergency call had been placed from Robert's phone.
Emily continued:
“I handed the phone to Victoria because Robert asked me to help him sit up.”
Richard stared.
“Then why does Victoria say she called?”
“Maybe she believes she did.”
“That makes no sense.”
Emily looked uncomfortable.
“Everyone was panicking.”
“What happened next?”
“Your father looked at Eleanor.”
“And?”
“He said, ‘Tell him.’”
“Tell me what?”
“I don't know.”
“Then?”
“He lost consciousness.”
“Did anyone touch him?”
“I did.”
“Anyone else?”
“Eleanor.”
Richard frowned.
“She couldn't.”
“She could move more then.”
“Victoria?”
“No.”
Richard stared.
“So Victoria didn't kill him.”
“I never said she did.”
“But Mom thinks—”
“Your mother hates Victoria.”
Emily's honesty surprised him.
“Do you think Victoria tried to kill Mom with the vase?”
“Yes.”
“Do you think she killed Dad?”
“No.”
Richard sat.
The world had become morally complicated.
Victoria was abusive.
Eleanor had drugged Robert.
Robert had sexually harassed Victoria.
Margaret administered the sedative.
Emily lied about being present.
And Richard had assaulted Emily because he chose certainty over listening.
Nobody was clean.
Then Emily said:
“There's something else.”
“What?”
“Robert didn't say ‘Tell him.’”
Richard frowned.
“You just said—”
“I lied.”
“Why?”
Emily looked frightened.
“What did he actually say?”
She whispered:
“Tell Richard about Daniel.”
Richard stared.
“Who's Daniel?”
Emily shook her head.
“I don't know.”
Richard searched his father's records.
One Daniel appeared repeatedly.
Daniel Carter.
Emily's father.
Richard slowly looked up.
Emily's last name was Carter.
He stared at her.
“Your father knew mine.”
Emily's face changed.
“Yes.”
“How?”
She swallowed.
“My father worked for Robert for twenty years.”
“What did he do?”
May you like
Emily answered:
“He was his driver.”
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