Page 89 of Behind These Four Walls

“It’s not what you think, Victor.” Brooke’s voice trembled from where she and Bennett huddled together. “We’ve been deceived just like you. This is all a misunderstanding.”

Bennett pulled at his mother’s hand, silencing her before she could make things any worse.

“No! She was alive. She was alive, and you just let her die, and you left her all alone.” His gaze swept them; he was desperate for answers that weren’t coming fast enough.

“Bennett wasn’t even around when Eden was with the boys. You heard how he looked for her. He definitely—definitely didn’t,” Brooke affirmed. “He definitely did not kill Edie.”

“Don’t get it confused,” Isla said. “Bennettdefinitelyset all of this in motion. He is not without guilt. He just didn’t actually kill her. Neither did Danny, Roger, or James.”

“Then who killed my daughter?” The question was an entreaty to end Victor’s suffering.

Jackson cursed, spurts of anger rising to the surface. “I guess you weren’t paying attention. No one killed Edie.”

Dixon spoke up. “But you did make her disappear.” He made a disgusted sound.

“All alone,” Victor murmured. “She’s been alone all this time.”

“Bennett.” Jackson took a step toward Bennett, imploring him.

“Bennett nothing,” Bennett spat, clutching his mother. “You didn’t keep the recording and the truck to protect me. They were collateral to control me with when I took over the company. You would have used them against me if you needed to. My so-called father.”

Jackson said, “I am still your father.” It was the only time his voice cracked from emotion.

“In DNA only,” Bennett muttered, turning away, resigning himself to his fate.

Jackson stood there watching Bennett and Brooke, the family he’d had for only moments before they were taken away. He whipped around and faced the rest of them. Glowering at Isla.

Isla continued, “You buried her. Forged a letter and used her bracelet, knowing Victor would honor whatever wish Eden had. What kind of person does that?”

Jackson said callously, “A smart one. I did what I had to do for my son. Edie was just an unlucky girl, and if anyone killed her, it would be you,” he added, sneering at Victor.

Victor moved before anyone could react.

Before anyone knew what was happening, Victor tackled Dixon and ripped the gun from Dixon’s holster. Dixon barely had time to react before Victor pulled the trigger.

Jackson dropped hard to one knee, gasping. His hand went to his left shoulder. He clutched it, dark liquid oozing between his fingers as he pitched forward. Brooke screamed and scrambled back, she and Bennett tripping over each other in panic. The gun hit the dirt, forgotten.

Myles and Lawrence grabbed Victor as Dixon recovered and then assisted. It took the three of them to restrain him as he struggled to free himself and get to Jackson again. Isla spun around and saw dots of lights getting closer as reinforcements double-timed, having heard the gunshot.

“Over here!” she yelled.

She looked back at the group, at the tiny clearing they were in, the shovels, the black bag meant for Edie. Oh God. Oh God! She covered her mouth to stifle a scream.

“All alone,” Victor sobbed, on the ground, covered in dirt. “You left her alone. All alone.”

Sirens echoed in the distance. Victor suddenly sprang back to life with a new purpose. He looked around desperately. “We have to get her out of there. We need to find her. Now.”

They looked to ask Jackson, but in the commotion he’d been forgotten, and he’d slipped away.

“They’ll find him,” Myles said as the reinforcements burst through. He refocused on Bennett, reaching down to grab a fistful of bloodstained shirt. “Where was he going to dig?”

Bennett dropped his head, the fight leaving him. His hand lifted, trembling, and pointed.

Victor followed the gesture. When his gaze landed on the mound of rocks that marked the spot, his breath hitched, and he half ran, half crawled to it, his voice roaring into the night. “No one step in that area!” His hands shook as he grabbed Lawrence. “Get whatever you need. Shovels. A machine. People. I’ll pay for it all. Just—” His voice broke. “Just get my girl out. Get her out now!”

Chapter Sixty-Six

Within the hour, workers and equipment were amassing under Lawrence’s orders. He knew every inch of the property like the back of his hand, and he helped with the coordination. Dixon attempted to get Victor to leave while workers assembled to begin the delicate job of exhuming Eden’s remains under the direction of the local medical examiner, who happened to be one of the attendees at the reception, along with the rest of Virginia’s elites. Victor refused. He would stay until Eden was found, with Myles at his side. And Isla planned to be there with him.