PART 14 — THE LAST WITNESS
Catherine stood frozen.
Mark sat behind the wheel.
Their eyes met through the windshield.
For several seconds, neither moved.
Then Mark stepped out.
Jonathan immediately moved between them.
“Stay away from her.”
Mark raised his hands.
“I'm not here to hurt her.”
Catherine stared at him.
“You followed me.”
“Yes.”
“You tracked my phone.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I was trying to protect you.”
She laughed bitterly.
“Protect me?”
Mark looked devastated.
“I made terrible mistakes.”
“You betrayed me.”
“I know.”
“You took eight million dollars.”
“I know.”
“You helped Victor access my company.”
“I know.”
“And you lied about my father.”
Mark lowered his head.
“I didn't know he would be killed.”
Catherine stepped closer.
“Then tell me who killed him.”
Mark looked at Jonathan.
Then at Catherine.
“Your attorney.”
Catherine's heart sank.
“You're sure?”
“I saw him.”
“When?”
“The night your father died.”
Silence.
Mark continued.
“Your mother brought Daniel to the clinic. I followed them.”
“Why?”
“Because Victor ordered me to make sure Daniel signed certain documents.”
“Did he?”
“No.”
“What happened?”
Mark swallowed.
“Your father realized your mother had betrayed him.”
Catherine's eyes filled with tears.
“They argued.”
“What did your attorney do?”
“He entered the room.”
“And?”
“He injected something into your father's IV.”
Catherine stopped breathing.
“You saw him?”
“Yes.”
“Why didn't you tell anyone?”
“Because Victor threatened me.”
“You let my father die.”
“I was terrified.”
Catherine looked away.
For the first time, she understood that Mark was not the mastermind.
He was weak.
Greedy.
Cowardly.
But not the killer.
“Where is my attorney now?”
Mark answered:
“At the company.”
Catherine frowned.
“Why?”
“He's preparing the final transfer.”
“When?”
“Tonight.”
Catherine looked at Jonathan.
“How much time?”
“Maybe three hours.”
Mark stepped closer.
“There is another problem.”
“What?”
“Victor knows Evelyn is alive.”
Catherine's blood ran cold.
“How?”
“He has someone watching the hospital.”
“Where is my mother?”
“I don't know.”
“Teresa?”
Mark shook his head.
“She disappeared.”
Catherine stared at him.
Then her phone rang.
Unknown number.
She answered.
A man's voice spoke.
“Catherine.”
“Victor?”
He laughed softly.
“Your father always said you were stubborn.”
“What did you do to my mother?”
“Which one?”
Catherine froze.
“Evelyn.”
“She is alive.”
“Where is she?”
“You'll find her.”
“Why are you telling me this?”
“Because you have something I want.”
“The box.”
“Yes.”
“You'll never get it.”
“I don't need the box.”
Catherine's heart sank.
“What do you want?”
“You.”
Silence.
Victor continued.
“Bring yourself to Whitmore Industries.”
“No.”
“Then Evelyn dies.”
Catherine's hands trembled.
“You're lying.”
“You have one hour.”
The call ended.
Catherine stared at the phone.
Jonathan spoke quietly.
“It could be a trap.”
“I know.”
Mark looked at her.
“Don't go.”
Catherine turned toward him.
“If I don't, someone else dies.”
“We can find another way.”
“There isn't time.”
Jonathan looked at the metal box.
“Maybe there is.”
He opened the hidden compartment.
Inside the box was one final document Catherine had not noticed.
A handwritten note from her father.
She unfolded it.
If Victor ever threatens Evelyn, don't fight him.
Give him what he thinks he wants.
Then open the account marked WHITE.
Catherine stared.
“An account?”
Jonathan nodded.
“Your father left something else.”
“What?”
“Control.”
He opened the laptop.
A secure login appeared.
The username was Catherine's.
She entered the password written on the note.
The screen loaded.
A corporate account appeared.
WHITMORE TRUST — CONTROLLING INTEREST: 62%
Catherine stared.
“My father didn't just leave me the company.”
“No.”
Jonathan smiled.
“He left you the majority of it.”
A second screen appeared.
EMERGENCY AUTHORITY ACTIVATED.
Catherine's phone buzzed.
A message from the company's legal system appeared.
All pending transfers have been frozen.
Catherine looked at Mark.
“They can't steal it anymore.”
But Jonathan wasn't smiling.
“What?”
He pointed to the bottom of the screen.
Another message had appeared.
TRANSFER FREEZE OVERRIDDEN BY SECONDARY AUTHORITY.
Catherine's face went pale.
“Who has secondary authority?”
Jonathan read the name.
His expression changed.
“Your mother.”
Catherine stared at the screen.
Teresa.
The woman who raised her.
The woman who had lied for thirty-four years.
And the woman who apparently still controlled the company.
Then a live video opened automatically.
Teresa appeared on the screen.
She looked directly into the camera.
“Catherine,” she said.
Catherine couldn't breathe.
Teresa smiled.
“You finally found the truth.”
Then she leaned closer.
“But your father never told you the most important part.”
Catherine stared.
“What part?”
Teresa's smile disappeared.
“Evelyn wasn't the only person who survived that night.”
The screen went black.
And Catherine heard a voice behind her.
A voice she had believed was dead for nine years.
“Catherine…”
She turned.
Jonathan's face went white.
Because standing in the doorway was the man everyone believed had died nine years ago.
Her father.
Daniel Whitmore.
