Chapter 18 - THE WOMAN WHO KNEW TOO MUCH
The next morning, Isabelle Maro arrived at Emily's house.
Alone.
No driver.
No assistant.
No jewelry.
No elegant entourage.
She looked older than Emily remembered.
Tired.
Human.
Emily opened the door.
"You came."
"I received a message."
"What message?"
Isabelle handed her a folded piece of paper.
Emily opened it.
**YOUR SON IS NEXT.**
She looked up.
"Who sent this?"
"I don't know."
"Did you receive anything else?"
Isabelle hesitated.
"Yes."
She reached into her handbag.
A photograph.
Emily recognized the building immediately.
The old Maro Tower construction site.
But the photograph was dated months before the accident.
Three men stood beside the temporary electrical system.
One was Victor Lang.
Another was Marcus Vale.
The third was someone Emily had never seen.
She turned the photograph over.
There was a handwritten note.
**THE THIRD MAN IS THE KEY.**
Julian entered the room.
When he saw Isabelle, he stopped.
"Mother."
She looked at him.
"I need to tell you something."
Julian crossed his arms.
"I'm listening."
"After your father's arrest, I believed the worst was over."
"It wasn't."
"No."
She looked at Emily.
"Victor was never the mastermind."
Julian's expression changed.
"Then who was?"
"I don't know."
"You just said Victor wasn't."
"Because Victor was afraid of someone else."
"Who?"
Isabelle looked toward the photograph.
"The third man."
Emily placed it on the table.
"Who is he?"
Isabelle's voice dropped.
"His name is Adrian Cross."
Julian frowned.
"That name sounds familiar."
"It should."
She looked directly at him.
"Your father once considered him a trusted partner."
Julian stared.
"Where is he now?"
"New York."
"Doing what?"
"Investments."
Emily's stomach tightened.
"What kind?"
Isabelle hesitated.
"Distressed assets."
Julian understood.
Companies in trouble.
Businesses on the verge of collapse.
Properties being sold cheaply.
Foundations under investigation.
Emily looked at him.
"You think he's creating the crisis."
"I think he has done this before."
Isabelle pulled another document from her bag.
"This was hidden in your father's private office."
Julian unfolded it.
It was a list of organizations.
At least eight.
All had experienced financial scandals within the past decade.
Emily looked closer.
One name made her blood run cold.
Their foundation.
But it had been listed six months before the first suspicious donation appeared.
"This was planned."
Isabelle nodded.
"Yes."
Julian stared at his mother.
"Why didn't you tell me earlier?"
She lowered her eyes.
"Because I was afraid."
Emily stepped closer.
"Afraid of Adrian?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
Isabelle's voice trembled.
"Because he knew something about me."
Julian froze.
"What?"
She looked at her son.
"Something I did after your father was arrested."
Silence.
Emily waited.
Isabelle finally said:
"I signed a settlement."
Julian frowned.
"With Adrian?"
"Yes."
"For what?"
"Silence."
Julian's expression hardened.
"About what?"
Isabelle closed her eyes.
"I knew there were documents proving your father had been manipulated."
"Then why didn't you release them?"
"Because Adrian threatened you."
Julian's voice cracked.
"Me?"
"He said if I exposed him, you would be blamed for the entire foundation."
Emily understood immediately.
"He wanted you to stay quiet so he could eventually use Julian as the fall guy."
Isabelle nodded.
Julian sat down.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then he said:
"Where are those documents?"
Isabelle looked at him.
"Somewhere Adrian will never think to search."
"Where?"
She smiled sadly.
"Your father's old house in France."
Emily exchanged a glance with Julian.
Julian stood.
"Then we're going to France."
Isabelle shook her head.
"No."
"Why?"
"Because if Adrian realizes you're looking for those documents, he won't threaten you anymore."
Emily felt a chill.
"What will he do?"
May you like
Isabelle looked at her.
"He will stop playing games."
