Chapter 9 - THE TRUTH COMES CLOSER
We returned to the house in silence. The police remained behind to finish their work at the boathouse. Arthur, Thomas, and I went straight to my study.
Arthur closed and locked the door. He walked to the fireplace and stood with his back to it, watching us both.
“I’ve been in Switzerland,” he began. “Recovering. And gathering proof. Halloway had me attacked on that hiking trail. Left me for dead. But I wasn’t dead. A hiker found me. Took me to a remote clinic. By the time I was well enough to understand what had happened—Halloway had already buried an empty casket and begun moving against us.”
He looked at Thomas.
“I couldn’t contact anyone. Not until I knew who I could trust. Because someone here told Halloway exactly where I’d be hiking that day. Someone in this house gave him my itinerary.”
Thomas’s face remained calm. “And have you learned who it was, sir?”
Arthur reached into his pocket and withdrew a small folded piece of paper. He held it up.
“I have. And tonight, Halloway confirmed it.”
“Confirmed it?” I asked.
“When he whispered to me as they led him away.” Arthur unfolded the paper. “He said—‘Your loyal driver helped me plan every step.’”
I turned sharply toward Thomas.
Thomas did not flinch. He did not look away. He simply met Arthur’s gaze steadily.
“Is that true?” Arthur asked him.
Thomas took a slow breath. Then he nodded.
“Yes,” he said.
My heart seemed to stop.
“I gave Halloway the itinerary,” Thomas said. “I told him where you’d be. When you’d be alone. But I did not know he intended to kill you. He told me he only intended to… frighten you. To persuade you to sell your shares. I believed him.”
“Why?” I whispered. “Thomas—why?”
He looked down at his hands. “My daughter. She’s very ill. Halloway offered to pay for treatment. The best clinics in the world. Money I don’t have. He said—all I must do is answer a few questions. Pass along some information. That no one would get hurt.”
He looked up, eyes glistening.
“I thought I was saving her life. Instead I nearly cost you yours. I’ve carried it every day, Mrs. Whitmore. Every time I drove you somewhere. Every time I stood watch. I wanted to tell you. A hundred times I wanted to confess. But Halloway threatened to stop the payments. To let her die.”
Arthur stepped forward. “And Rachel? Did you help her too?”
“I gave her information,” Thomas said. “Small things. When Mrs. Whitmore would be alone. When documents might be signed. But I warned her, too. I told her Halloway was dangerous. She wouldn’t listen.”
He turned to me.
“When Mrs. Whitmore began walking again—when she set that trap—I knew Halloway had lost. I wanted to help. Truly. That’s why I was there that night. To intervene. To make sure nothing happened to her.”
“You saved my life,” I said quietly. “At the fountain.”
“I did. Because I realized—whatever Halloway was paying, whatever he was offering—it wasn’t worth destroying a family that had been mine for half my life.” Thomas looked at Arthur. “I’ve been feeding Halloway false information for weeks. Leading him astray. Trying to protect you both. I kept him distracted until you could return.”
Arthur was silent a long moment. Then he walked forward and placed a hand on Thomas’s shoulder.
“You should have told us,” Arthur said. “We would have helped your daughter.”
“I couldn’t be certain,” Thomas said. “Not until tonight. Not until I heard Halloway admit everything with my own ears.” He drew a shaky breath. “I’ll turn myself in. Whatever happens—I’ve betrayed your trust.”
I stepped forward. “Thomas—you made a terrible mistake. But you tried to make amends. And you saved my life.”
“He still must answer for what he did,” Arthur said. “But not tonight. Tonight—we finish what we started.”
He looked at us both.
“Halloway has been arrested. But his network remains. And there is one more thing he said before they took him away.”
May you like
Arthur paused.
“He said I hadn’t won completely. That there was someone else. Someone above even him. Someone pulling all the strings.”
