And I recognized her from the photograph.
It was the woman he had been secretly supporting.
Victoria stood in the entrance hall.
She was younger than I had expected, perhaps thirty-eight, with shoulder-length blonde hair and a composed expression.
A little girl stood beside her.
The child held her mother’s hand tightly.
David stared at them.
“Victoria?”
She looked at him.
“Surprised?”
“What are you doing here?”
“Looking for answers.”
David glanced toward the child.
“Not in front of her.”
Victoria laughed bitterly.
“You should have thought about that before involving me in your crimes.”
Jessica stepped away from the staircase.
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“You’re Victoria?”
Victoria looked at her.
“And you’re Jessica.”
Neither woman smiled.
For several seconds, the hallway became unbearably quiet.
Samuel approached Victoria.
“Mrs. Hayes, I’m Samuel Reed. I’m representing Mrs. Mercer.”
Victoria nodded.
“I know. I’ve been trying to contact you.”
She opened her document case.
“I have evidence concerning David Mercer, Caroline Hayes, and the fraudulent transfer of several intellectual property rights.”
