Chapter 9 - THE VOICE FROM LONDON
Howard answered on speaker.
Jonathan did not know Samantha and Naomi were there.
“Dad, don’t say anything until counsel is present.”
Howard closed his eyes.
Samantha stared.
Jonathan continued.
“Derek is already changing his story.”
Howard whispered:
“You cleared the vehicle.”
Silence.
Then:
“I used the old account.”
Samantha’s stomach dropped.
Howard looked at her.
Jonathan realized.
“Who’s there?”
Howard did not answer.
Jonathan continued quickly.
“The car was supposed to remain mechanically safe.”
Naomi leaned forward.
“What does that mean?”
Jonathan went silent.
Howard said:
“She heard you.”
Jonathan swore.
Then explained.
He had used James Carter’s old credentials to remove the administrative road restriction because Derek wanted the Lamborghini for a media event.
He believed the repair was complete.
He also disabled the warning because Derek said the warning itself would undermine the car’s appearance.
Reckless.
Illegal.
But not murder.
Then Samantha asked:
“Did you know Derek planned to demand the car from me?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Silence.
“Jonathan.”
“He wanted the confrontation documented.”
There.
Derek expected Samantha to resist.
Why?
Because he planned to use her refusal as evidence that she was withholding marital assets.
The car incident was supposed to be a property dispute.
Not a brake panic.
Jonathan said:
“Derek wanted video of her refusing him access. That was it.”
Naomi asked:
“And when she handed him the key?”
“He drove.”
“What did you expect?”
“Nothing.”
Then Jonathan said something worse.
“Derek called me from the car before he called Samantha.”
Everyone froze.
“What did he say?”
Howard asked.
Jonathan hesitated.
“He said the brake pedal felt wrong.”
Samantha stared.
“And?”
“I told him to pull over.”
“Did he?”
“No.”
“Why?”
Jonathan’s voice dropped.
“Because he said this might be better.”
Silence.
Samantha felt cold.
Derek had noticed the problem.
And instead of stopping immediately, he saw an opportunity.
Then Jonathan added:
“He said if he could get Samantha on the phone, he could make her say something useful.”
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The extortion call had not only trapped Derek.
Derek had been trying to trap Samantha at the same time.
