Victor’s Secret
Chapter 12 - Victor’s Secret
The report came from a private investigator Victor hired after Ben’s death.
It contained photographs of Damien’s torn climbing glove, traces of Ben’s blood on the cuff, and an audio analysis suggesting a second person disconnected Ben’s safety line.
Victor had enough to demand a criminal investigation.
He buried it.
At the time, Elena was barely functioning. Damien was the person keeping her alive. Cross Capital threatened to sue the family, destroy Hartwell’s credit, and release photographs implying Ben used drugs during the climb.
Victor convinced himself that uncertain evidence could not bring Ben back and might destroy Elena.
Margaret read the report with shaking hands.
“You knew Damien might have killed our son.”
“I knew there had been a struggle.”
“And you let him marry our daughter.”
“They were already married when I received the final analysis.”
“You let him stay.”
Victor had no answer that did not sound like cowardice.
Elena learned the truth from her mother before Damien could release it. She listened without interruption, then asked Victor to leave the room.
Margaret expected rage. Elena appeared emptied.
“Everyone made decisions about what truth I could survive,” she said. “Damien. Celeste. Dad. Even you sometimes.”
Margaret accepted the accusation.
“Yes.”
“I need that to end.”
“It ends now.”
Victor turned the report over to detectives and resigned from every Hartwell position. He issued a public statement admitting he concealed evidence.
The market punished the company. Newspapers called the Ellisons hypocrites. Damien’s lawyers argued Victor’s secrecy proved the family fabricated later accusations to cover its own misconduct.
Yet Victor’s confession strengthened the mountain case. Investigators recovered archived evidence that matched the private report. Ben’s blood on Damien’s glove could not be explained by distance.
Damien was charged with evidence tampering and manslaughter pending further review.
He disappeared before the arrest warrant was served.
His electronic monitor had been cut inside a courthouse restroom. Marcus Cross’s stolen vehicle appeared on traffic cameras heading north.
A search began across three states.
Elena received one voice message.
“I loved you more than any of them did,” Damien said. “They all lied. I only lied better.”
At the end of the recording, a train horn sounded.
Naomi identified the route near Hartwell’s abandoned printing plant.
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Elena knew the building.
It contained the original archive of her grandfather’s company—and the trust documents Damien still needed.
