“Victoria journaled that Gilbert met with Cynthia to let her know he’d seen Victoria with the crystal shoes and jewelry set,” June picked up the case. “He followed Cynthia and Victoria back to Sandpiper Shores after Cynthia must have told him about the cat burglar the FBI were trying to catch in Sandpiper Shores.”
“So, they figured out that either Victoria knew who it was or she was the cat burglar,” Margo guessed.
“Yes,” Holt confirmed with a nod. “We think they were working on it together, or so Victoria thought. She knew she had to get rid of Cynthia, who knew Victoria was involved, and Gilbert.”
“But then four other people got involved,” Willa guessed, her voice hoarse with emotion.
“She had to get rid of all of them as she didn’t know what Cynthia or Gilbert had told them,” Holt said, trying to break the news as gently as he could. “Because she was working with Alvin, she spared his son and told Nigel that if he continued with the case, his father would go to prison.” He drew in a breath. “We have since learned that Alvin has stage four cancer and not long to live.”
“That’s why Nigel closed the case and moved his father to Miami,” Willa hissed. “That traitor.”
“It wasn’t only because of Alvin,” June told her daughter gently. “Nigel did it because Victoria also threatened you, the kids, Ace, and Margo. People who had become family to him.” Her eyes glowed with compassion. “And you, Harvey. Victoria writesrather scathingly, actually, how Nigel was a sucker for his friends and was almost more afraid for them than he was for his own father.”
“So Nigel gate kept that case in order to keep Victoria from going after any of you,” June told them. “He had stuff on her, and she had stuff on his father.”
“A stale mate,” Ace added.
“Something like that,” Holt said.
“So you think Nigel disappeared with his father because he knew we’d look into the case as soon as he left?” Willa asked Holt.
“I’m not sure,” Holt replied. “But I’ll ask him that when we find him.”
Nobody spoke.
Dean was looking at the table in front of him with the expression of a man who had suspected the truth for ten years and was finding that having it confirmed was not the relief he’d imagined it would be.
“So it was Victoria who…” Margo said, tears springing to her eyes. “Who did that terrible thing ten years ago?”
“We believe so,” Holt said with a nod.
“How could I not have seen it?” Tom hissed, and Holt felt for the man. “I lived with her.” His brow creased. “I knew she was cold and manipulating…” He ran a hand through his hair. “But it takes a certain kind of person to do something like she did ten years ago.”
“Tom, this isn’t your fault,” June insisted. “People like Victoria hide who they truly are really well.”
“Not that well,” Margo said and then glanced at Tom. “I’m sorry, Tom, but Victoria was horrible.”
“I’m sorry,” Tom breathed, his voice raw with horror, pain, and remorse. “Oh gosh, I’m so, so sorry, everyone.”
“Tom, this is not on you,” June said again for everyone at the table.
Holt waited a beat before he moved to the second section of the board.
“In the present day,” he continued, “Victoria identified that Lacey, Judy, and Margo had taken over the Hidden Truths YouTube channel and were actively working to clear Gilbert Fry’s name. Victoria had access to the police station through her position as Tom’s wife. She had ears in the right places.”
Tom’s chair shifted slightly, but he didn’t speak.
“When Victoria realized what clearing Gilbert’s name meant, she began with warnings,” Holt said. “Fires. Notes. Incidents designed to frighten rather than kill. When those failed, she escalated. Victoria tried to frame Judy for attacking Margo, using their connection to Gilbert’s death as a false motive. She tried to construct a counter-narrative where Margo had retaliated against Judy. When the vet office fire failed to achieve what she needed it to achieve, she began planning something larger.” He looked around the table. “Her journal outlines a plan to lure June and Lucy to kidnap them and use them as leverage. Victoria was going to bring Lacey, Judy, and Margo to the same location to make a deal in exchange for June and Lucy. Then she was going to do what she’d done ten years ago and blame it on Judy this time. Making it look like it was a retaliation for her brother, Gilbert.”
Everyone at the table stared at Holt in shock.
“When her plans began to fail, and she understood that the investigation was closing in on her,” Holt finished, “Victoria took the safe from Sienna’s room, collected Alfred and Mrs. Clark, then left Sandpiper Shores. She is currently at large. We’re actively looking for her.”
The room held the silence for a long moment.
Then Margo raised her hand.
Holt looked at her. “Go ahead, Margo.”
