Chapter 72
Lena’s POV
Small Cafe – A few minutes later
Silence fell around as after I spoke about Marcus.
I knew he was a man no one knew even lived let alone died in a close case.
Jonathan didn’t say a word, probably processing what he just heard.
I didn’t even know if he knew anything about Marcus or was this the first time he heard about him.
I kept quiet as I studied him.
He was controlled and was ready for the truth.
I took the chance.
“There’s one thing you don’t know,” I continued in measured words.
“The night he was killed, he was coming to meet you at your mansion p>
His expression changed as I knew he recalled about that accident across his home.
I had a brief encounter with him as I fainted on seeing Marcus’s body and he took me to his home.
On gaining consciousness, I left.
I knew this fact changed a lot of meanings.
As now getting justice was not only my need but his as well.
Because if Marcus had succeeded in meeting him back then, he and Veronica would have united three years before Veronica left.
“I knew about his accident,” Jonathan finally spoke.
“When I found out…it was an unfortunate one p>
“It wasn’t an accident.” I spoke in a little loud voice.
I exhaled.
“It was more than an accident p>
A pause followed.
“It was a hit-and-run, a pre-planned one p>
Another pause followed.
“It was a staged one p>
Another pause.
“Deliberately in front of your house p>
“A lesson to him, he wanted he reach you, but this is as far as he would allow him p>
His stillness proved he didn’t expect to hear this.
I knew it was a cold one, but maybe the impact was stronger than what I expected.
“Fredrick was the one who ordered the accident and precisely in front of your house p>
“The reason, which I know you’re concerned about,” I continued.
“Marcus was appointed by Fredrick to point out things that could make Veronica look suspicious and cause Imelda any trouble p>
“At first Marcus thought she was an employee who did for money. Soon he found out it wasn’t as he thought p>
“Marcus found out about Adrian not being your son, and how Imelda was blackmailing Veronica to work. He began to investigate Veronica p>
“He followed her, her work, her routine p>
“He kept notes of her patterns and the manipulations Imelda fed her p>
“Marcus didn’t get killed because he knew too much about Veronica p>
I trailed off a bit.
“He was killed because he was able to convince you Veronica was in danger and you would have revolted against Imelda, and Fredrick p>
“At first he planned to meet you and tell you in person,” I continued.
“He even called you a few times, but every time one of them would be around you p>
“That day also he decided to meet you directly and tell you everything p>
“But why didn’t he think I was part of them?” He asked.
“During the time he investigated, he understood you were only used on the basis of a fake DNA report p>
“He knew once you knew everything, you were the only one who could bring them down and save Veronica p>
“Marcus had been observing you for a while back then p>
“I read in his notes, he studied your behavior towards Veronica and Imelda p>
“He knew you were never against Veronica, he also knew you were never part of what she did to Imelda as well p>
“He wrote in his notes, he didn’t know how long Veronica can keep going p>
“Maybe he had a hint she would eventually leave p>
I paused for a brief moment as I wanted him to relax as it was all too much to absorb all together.
I knew it was an emotional fact as had he known, they would not have suffered seven years of separation.
“So you mean to say, ’Fredrick killed Marcus because he was going to tell me about Veronica p>
“Lena,” Jonathan said leaning forward. “Fredrick doesn’t eliminate people randomly, he eliminates threats he can’t control p>
“And he never keeps assets he can’t control,” he said continuing.
“I’m a living proof of that p>
“Jonathan, why aren’t you understanding it?” I said as I was a little frustrated.
“He began to find evidence for lots of their shady work p>
“He had a chain forming that could easily send them in, and Veronica was only a fraction of that p>
“Fredrick never fought people, he removed variables p>
Jonathan’s expression changed which made me believe he finally understood the full picture.
“Marcus’s death was linked directly to Veronica’s isolation,” I continued.
“Fredrick knew if Marcus wasn’t there, no one would be around to confirm the truth p>
“Marcus had found Veronica relied on her survival decisions, and he knew she wouldn’t last long p>
“With Marcus’s death…Veronica lost her only external support, even if she didn’t know he was there protecting her p>
“Eventually when she found out, she had no choice but to leave p>
“She knew it wouldn’t be long before they or she did something drastic that would definitely separate you both forever p>
Jonathan went quiet for a brief moment.
It’s as if he was processing everything in his mind.
“So the delays in Imelda getting engaged as planned, misdirecting the deals, delaying the Blue Heart and isolating Veronica from me…was all Fredrick’s plan p>
“Jonathan, Fredrick has been a person who thinks he was born to control everyone and everything around him p>
“For him nothing was ever accidentally done or coincidental p>
I didn’t want to say this, but I had to.
“Jonathan, it’s not that you were blind that you didn’t see all these things. He just guided you away from seeing the truth, that’s all p>
Jonathan leaned over, finally letting the cup go.
I relaxed on seeing that.
“Okay, so what do you have against him p>
“Oh,” I removed a folder and placed it between us.
“These are the partial findings Marcus gathered. And look at these ones…now they can’t be accidental inconsistencies no p>
Jonathan took a look at them.
“One two, maybe. But, these many, this is not accidental.” Jonathan said, taking one document up and began to review it.
Then he picked the others and was going to lay them out, and the waiter came over.
“Would you like to order anything else p>
“If you don’t mind, can we stay here for discussion p>
“Of course Sir,” the waiter said.
“I had a feeling that’s why I’m asking p>
“Then you can place the coffee jug here and could you arrange some sandwiches, pizza, and coke,” he removed his card.
“Charge on this p>
“Yes Sir,” the waiter took the card and left the coffee jug.
As I was pouring the coffee, he began.
“Look here,” he said pointing out.
“The company timelines, and the document irregularities…they don’t align p>
“I remember from the files I have,” he said.
“According to the files, she had a fixed time p>
“Three AM was the last delivery back to the office p>
“But what’s all this got to do with Marcus p>
“Individually?” I said.
“It only points to Veronica, but if you form them together with his notes…it will form an intent p>
Jonathan exhaled.
“Veronica was manipulated by Imelda and Fredrick knew Marcus was gathering evidence against Imelda to prove Veronica was being used p>
“Then he dies in a hit-and-run *accidentally.”* He continued.
“This is what Marcus was following,” he continued.
“A pattern and not a coincidence p>
“Facts only approach a point p>
“So for now we can’t accuse them but we will establish the facts that can accuse them p>
“But how can I p>
He cut my words midway.
“Lena, before I was going to help you cause Fredrick is a mutual enemy,” he said.
“Now that I know he died trying to meet me to save Veronica, I won’t back off till Fredrick gets sentenced for this p>
I smiled as I saw the determination in his eyes.
“Okay,” I said.
“We’ll prove together p>
I smiled on seeing Jonathan had definitely changed and now he was the king his queen deserved.
“His notes are back home,” I said.
“What else do you need p>
“Lena, what we have are only clues, hints.” He said.
“With these we have a beginning but not a path let alone evidence,” he continued.
“We’ll need to investigate on our own and gather the evidence. Only then we’ll be able to accuse him enough to sentence him p>
“For this we’ll have to divide our roles,” he said.
“I’ll check out the official records and find out the financial trails.” He said passing me a document.
“You’ll get me all the information on Marcus’ network and I want his underground links as well p>
“I’ll get John to check through the files for any leads. And I’m sure Marcus must have known about Clara p>
“Clara?” I was confused.
“Clara Hayes was hired by Imelda to create the system that was used for the documents, deliveries, tracking the clients and customers p>
“Imelda had put the cops behind her,” he continued.
“We tracked her down. She helped in return for her freedom p>
He exhaled.
“Marcus must have found out about her as well, and maybe vice versa as well p>
“If Clara knew something then her files will have them p>
“Okay, what else?” I asked as I realized he knew more than I did.
“We’ll have to build a undeniable chain of evidence,” he continued.
“We know Marcus didn’t fail p>
“He just wasn’t allowed to reach me p>
“Now p>
Jonathan said with determination in his eyes.
“We’ll finish what he started and make Fredrick pay for Marcus’ death p>