Chapter 7 - The Golf Club
The second recording began with the sound of rain.
Emily was outdoors.
Her voice was breathless.
“Brad, give me my phone.”
“You’re not calling anyone.”
A car door slammed.
Mrs. Gable said, “Bring her back inside.”
Emily shouted that she would expose the forged transfer.
Then came a struggle.
A sharp impact.
Not graphic.
But unmistakable.
Several guests looked toward the covered golf-club head.
Brad closed his eyes.
Emily gasped.
The recorder struck the ground.
A man’s voice said, “You hit her too hard.”
The voice did not belong to Brad.
Margaret looked toward the attorneys.
One of them, Douglas Vane, had lowered his phone earlier.
His face had gone gray.
Mrs. Gable spoke on the recording.
“Stop standing there and help us move her.”
Vane backed away from the table.
Everyone turned toward him.
“I was not there.”
Margaret stopped playback.
“The file contains location metadata.”
Vane’s breathing changed.
Brad stared at him with open hatred.
“You said you destroyed it.”
The ballroom became silent.
Vane realized too late what he had admitted.
Margaret placed both hands on the table.
May you like
“Where is my daughter?”
No one answered.
