Chapter 5 - Malcolm Finally Revealed Why He Wanted Clara Dead—and Why He Was More Afraid of Audrey Than CallumMalcolm didn't attack immediately.
He waited.
Because Malcolm Ror had spent twenty-five years winning by making other people believe they were already doomed.
He called Callum at noon.
“Bring Audrey.”
Callum answered.
“No.”
Malcolm laughed.
“You always were stubborn.”
“What do you want?”
“The ledger.”
“You'll never have it.”
“Then Clara dies.”
Callum closed his eyes.
Audrey stood across the room.
“He has Clara.”
“Yes.”
“Then we have to move.”
“No.”
She looked at him.
“Why?”
“Because that's exactly what he wants.”
He paused.
“He wants me angry.”
Audrey nodded.
“So don't be.”
Callum looked at her.
“Can you do that?”
“No.”
She smiled.
“But I can pretend.”
They made a plan.
Use Clara as bait.
Track Malcolm.
Release the ledger.
Force him into the open.
But they needed evidence connecting him directly to the murders.
They had enough.
Just not enough to guarantee conviction.
Audrey remembered something.
“The hospital.”
“What?”
“Your father's old cardiac records.”
“How does that help?”
“Malcolm ordered the falsification of your mother's medical report.”
She found the records.
There it was.
A drug interaction that never happened.
A doctor paid off.
A forged signature.
Proof.
Callum stared.
“We have him.”
“Not yet.”
“Why?”
“Because he'll claim someone else did it.”
“So?”
“We need the person above him.”
Callum's expression changed.
“You think there's someone above Malcolm.”
“Yes.”
“Who?”
Audrey looked at her mother.
The older woman whispered:
“Leonard Voss.”
Callum's face hardened.
“He's dead.”
“No,” Audrey's mother said.
“He isn't.”
Silence.
Leonard Voss had been Malcolm's partner.
A financier.
A man who disappeared fifteen years ago.
Everyone assumed he had died.
He had not.
He had been controlling the network from offshore.
Malcolm was only his local arm.
Callum stared.
“How do we find him?”
Audrey's mother smiled.
“He'll find you.”
That evening, Malcolm sent a video.
Clara was tied to a chair.
But she wasn't alone.
Beside her sat Leonard Voss.
Older.
Gray-haired.
Still smiling.
Callum stared.
Voss spoke directly to the camera.
“Your father was a sentimental fool.”
Callum said nothing.
“He thought family mattered more than power.”
Audrey stepped closer.
Voss looked at her through the camera.
“And you.”
His smile widened.
“Clara's protector.”
Audrey froze.
“How does he know me?”
Her mother answered.
“Because I was the one who told him.”
Callum turned.
“What?”
Audrey's mother lowered her eyes.
“I thought I could control the information.”
Audrey stared.
“You put me in danger.”
“I was trying to save you.”
“By working with him?”
“I had no choice.”
Voss's voice continued.
“You see, Audrey, your mother made one mistake.”
She looked at the screen.
“She loved you.”
Then the video ended.
Audrey's face went pale.
Callum caught her hand.
“Don't.”
“I need to go.”
“No.”
“They have Clara.”
“That's why you're exactly what they want.”
She looked at him.
“Then use me.”
“No.”
“Callum.”
“I said no.”
“You want me safe?”
“Yes.”
“Then trust me.”
He stared at her.
“That's the first time you've ever asked.”
“Yes.”
He took a breath.
“Fine.”
They went.
The exchange took place at an abandoned hotel.
Callum carried the ledger.
Audrey carried nothing.
Voss stood with Clara.
Malcolm beside him.
“Put the ledger down.”
Callum did.
Voss nodded.
“Good.”
Clara was released.
She ran toward Callum.
Malcolm raised his weapon.
But Audrey stepped between them.
“You're not shooting him.”
Malcolm laughed.
“Why not?”
“Because you need him.”
“What?”
“You need Callum alive to sign the trust transfer.”
Voss looked at Malcolm.
He hadn't told her that.
Audrey had guessed.
She smiled.
“You didn't expect me to know.”
Voss's expression hardened.
“You're your mother's daughter.”
“Thank you.”
“You don't understand.”
“I understand plenty.”
She pointed to the ledger.
“The trust is worthless if you can't prove Callum accepted it.”
Voss frowned.
Audrey continued.
“And the evidence is already public.”
Voss froze.
“What?”
“The ledger is a copy.”
She smiled.
“The real one is with the federal prosecutor.”
Malcolm looked at Voss.
Voss looked furious.
He raised his gun.
Then Callum moved.
Gunfire.
Chaos.
Clara ran.
Audrey ducked.
Malcolm chased Callum.
Voss disappeared.
The hotel filled with smoke.
Callum grabbed Audrey.
“Run!”
They escaped through a side entrance.
But Malcolm caught them outside.
He pointed a gun.
“You ruined everything.”
Audrey stood between him and Callum.
“You did.”
Malcolm smiled.
“Move.”
“No.”
“Don't make me kill you.”
Audrey looked at him.
“You already tried.”
His smile disappeared.
She knew.
He had tried to kill her years ago.
The accident.
Her father.
The hospital.
All connected.
Malcolm raised his gun.
Before he could fire, another shot rang out.
Malcolm dropped.
Audrey turned.
Her mother stood behind him.
The older woman lowered the gun.
“He killed your father.”
Audrey stared.
“Mom.”
“I wanted you to survive.”
Malcolm lay bleeding.
Callum took the gun.
Police arrived.
Leonard Voss was arrested hours later.
The network collapsed within weeks.
But one question remained.
Patrick Ror.
He was still missing.
They found him three days later.
At an abandoned chapel near Lake Michigan.
Alive.
Weak.
Sitting in a wheelchair.
Callum ran to him.
“Dad.”
Patrick opened his eyes.
“You found her.”
Callum looked at Audrey.
“Yes.”
Patrick smiled.
“Good.”
Then his expression changed.
“You haven't found the final truth.”
Callum frowned.
“What?”
Patrick looked at Audrey.
“She knows.”
Audrey went still.
“Knows what?”
Patrick reached for her hand.
“Your mother didn't kill Malcolm.”
Audrey stared.
“What?”
May you like
Patrick whispered:
“I did.”
Related Stories
