Chapter 5
Elaine found a hidden photo album on Isabella’s phone.
The images were all of Khloe.
Not family photographs.
Angles.
Distances.
Doorways.
Stairs.
Shoes.
Handrails.
One showed Khloe walking toward the chapel.
Another showed the rear service steps.
Then I saw Khloe’s car.
The front tire had been marked with a yellow circle.
I looked at my security chief.
“Bring me Grant Ellis.”
Khloe turned toward me.
“What happened?”
I looked at her.
“You had a blowout last month.”
Her face changed.
Isabella laughed softly.
“You can’t possibly think—”
I raised one hand.
She stopped.
Grant arrived fifteen minutes later.
I knew him.
Trusted him.
That made what happened next worse.
He looked at Isabella before he looked at me.
I noticed.
“Who told you to clear Khloe’s car after the blowout?”
“Routine.”
I stared at him.
“Wrong.”
Silence.
“Again.”
Grant swallowed.
“Victor.”
Khloe closed her eyes.
Victor cursed under his breath.
I turned.
“You removed the tire.”
He said nothing.
Grant continued.
“Victor said Mrs. Thorne hit something and there was no need to escalate it.”
My voice became colder.
“Was the tire cut?”
Grant hesitated.
Then nodded.
Khloe’s face drained.
I did not move.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Victor said you already knew.”
Victor snapped, “He’s lying.”
Grant looked at him.
“No.”
The word came quietly.
But fear had shifted sides.
Grant continued.
“You paid me.”
Victor’s face hardened.
“You have no proof.”
Elaine spoke behind me.
“There’s a photo.”
Everyone turned.
On Isabella’s phone was a picture of Victor beside Khloe’s car.
A folding blade was visible in his hand.
I stared at him.
The staircase.
The chair.
The foundation suite.
Now the car.
May you like
Four “accidents.”
And one of them could have killed my wife before I ever knew something was wrong.
