Chapter 9 CHAPTER NINE

Theo shut the study door and made his way down the corridor with shaky legs. The briefcase was like a thousand pounds.

He reached his room, locked the door and sat on the bed. His hands were shaking.

He'd done it. He'd gotten Victor to confess. Not only to the fire, but to killing Michael Callahan. All words recorded in the voice recorder in his phone.

Together with the photographs in the secret room, he possessed sufficient evidence that could ruin the Whitmores altogether.

Theo pulled out his phone, and then the recording was terminated. There was a conversation of forty-seven minutes. He already backed it up to three distinct cloud services and then forwarded the audio file to David through a message: Victor confession. He acknowledged that he killed my uncle. This and the pictures of last night should be enough evidence.

In a few seconds David replied: Jesus Christ. Get out of that house NOW. I'm serious, Theo. They will murder you in case they discover what you carry.

Theo looked over at the briefcase full of cash. He might get away with it, begin anew somewhere away. Victor had expected him to be out before the night.

That would never solve the murder of Michael Callahan. Riverside fire victims would not receive justice. The Whitmores would not lose their wealth, their influence, their liberty.

And Theo would be living the remainder of his life knowing he had stolen blood money and kept quiet about it.

His phone buzzed. David still: Found Thomas Brennan. Real name Thomas Bradley now. Lives in Henderson, Nevada. Retirement community. You want his address?

Yes. Send everything you have. Theo texted back.

Theo opened the brief-case once more, and counted. Precisely two hundred thousand. There was much he could do with this money. Or he could use it as bait.

Another knock at the door. Theo pushed the briefcase underneath his bed forcing him to quickly zip it up.

And Catherine stood there, in an unreadable expression.

“I heard you are going away.” She said. No faking of caring.

"That's right." Theo replied

"Good. Three years ago, I informed Victor that I was wrong in bringing you to this family. Elena's little rebellion." She glanced up and down at him disgustedly. “You never were good enough with us, Theo. Never belonged."

"I know." Theo said sharply.

Something was flashing through her eyes. Remarkably, perhaps, that he was not arguing.

"Well then. I suppose this is goodbye. I can offer to assist you in packing, but we both know there is nothing worth packing in your room.” She said mockingly.

She walked away, and then stopped.

"One thing. Whatever Victor paid you, do not act like he never paid you something. Remember that. Whatever he handed down to you, we value your silence more. Should you ever resolve to dishonour your agreement we will destroy and bury you.”

"Like you buried Michael Callahan?" Theo said with no fear.

Catherine's face went white. "What did you say?"

"My uncle. Michael Callahan. The one who had come with questions in 1994 and vanished."

“I have no idea what you are talking about.” Catherine replied.

"Yes, you do. You knew then, you know now. At this stage you were married to Victor. You helped him cover it up." Theo said with a tone of anger.

The mask of Catherine went off, and she expressed genuine fear. "You need to leave. Now. Accept whatever Victor sent to you and go.”

"Or what? You'll make me disappear too?" Theo getting angry.

“I suppose you are a clever person.” said Catherine. “I suppose you have got us figured out. However, you have no idea what this family can do. Victor is cruel, yet Richard? Richard enjoys it. He has been wishing to have a reason to deal with you a long time.”

"Is that a threat?" Theo asked.

"It's a warning. Get out while you can." Catherine replied.

She walked away, clicking her heels as she went down the corridor.

Theo shut the door and leaned on it. His heart was racing.

They were scared. The calmness with which Victor negotiated, Catherine trying to threaten him. They were worried what he could say, what he would do.

Good. Let them worry.

Theo reached out to his laptop and began to write an email. Not to David this time but the District Attorney.

He added the photographs of the secret room, the tape with Victor making the confession. He dictated all this: the insurance swindle, the fire in Riverside, the twelve murders, the murder of Michael Callahan, the payoffs to Thomas Brennan.

His cursor was held above the send button.

Once he pressed it. The Whitmores would realize that he betrayed them. They would fight him with everything they have.

But if he didn’t send it, he will be like other men who were purchased. Another accomplice to their crimes over the decades.

Theo could make no decision when his door crashed open.

Richard was there, with wild eyes, evidently drunk or high or both. “You consider yourself so smart, do you?”

Theo stood, tensing. "Richard"

“My dad can accept your naive performance. But I know better. I can tell you what you were doing, sneaking around and listening. You discovered something, did you?”

"I don't know anything." Theo said

Richard jumped forward, and caught Theo by the shirt and bumped him against the wall. The laptop fell on the ground making noise.

"Don't lie to me!" The breath of Richard was sweet with liquor. "What did you find? What was it my father paid you to hush up?”

"Nothing. He just wants me gone." Theo replied panting

"Bullshit." Richards’s fist struck in the stomach of Theo. Theo doubled over, gasping.

"Richard, stop!" Theo shouted.

Elena standing in the doorway, in horror.

“Keep out of this, I don't want you to be involved in this.” Richard snarled. “Your husband has been spying in stuffs that are not his business. It is my assurance that he realizes the repercussions.”

He struck Theo a second time, on the face. Theo jerked back his head, with a tincture of blood.

"Richard, please!" Elena was crying now. "Stop it!"

"Why? He's leaving anyway. Had better leave him something that would made him remember us.” Richard said.

Richard reclined to another blow, whereupon Theo was on the alert. Three years of receiving abuse had made him patient. But they too had taught him when to strike back.

Theo stood in the way of a punch, and plunged his elbow into the throat of Richard. Richard blundered back, and choked.

"You" Richard gasped.

Theo didn't wait. He snatched his laptop, shoved his phone into his pocket and pushed past Elena into the corridor.

"Theo, wait!" Elena called.

But Theo was already going down the stairs, laptop on his chest. He heard Richard behind him making recoveries, cursing, and pounding after him.

Theo banged the front door, threw it open and fled into the gray morning.

He didn't look back.

The Whitmore mansion was behind him, with its hostile-looking windows.

Theo ran until his breath came out like fire, until the mansion had been left a block away. It was at that point that he paused, leaning against a building, searching his laptop.

Still intact. The e-mail to the DA is still on the screen, and it is not sent.

Theo gazed upon it a long time.

Then he pressed send.

The evidence was out. The truth was in motion.

And Theo Callahan was done running.