CHAPTER 35: The Day After A Concrete  Plan

POV: Selene Castellano

The news kept playing on repeat.

Marcus Pierce is Dead, an apparent suicide and a note is left behind.

Selene sat on the sofa, staring at the TV without really seeing it. The same footage over and over—Marcus’s Pacific Heights mansion, police tape and reporters speculating.

Avalon was talking to Margaret on the phone, and this was already their third conversation in just an hour.

To be honest, we're still in the dark about what actually happened - the police haven't shared any details with us yet. I can see why it might seem suspicious, but I assure you, we were just as surprised as everyone else when the news broke.

We didn't have any inside information or advance warning, we found out at the same time as the reporters and the general public.

Margaret, I'm being completely truthful with you, we had no idea what was going on until it was made public, just like everyone else.

He slammed the phone down hard, and then he ran his hands through his hair, feeling really frustrated and annoyed.

She thinks we should put out a statement, he said.

“Saying what?”

That we are really shocked and sad about Marcus's death, even though we didn't see eye to eye on some things, we never wanted anything bad to happen to him.

“Do we release it?”

Diana wants us to hold back, but Margaret is convinced we should take action immediately. She's worried that if we don't, the press will get wind of it and spin it in a way that makes things even more difficult for us. She thinks it's better to be proactive and get ahead of the story, rather than waiting and risking the press blowing it out of proportion. Like it could get worse.

Selene’s phone buzzed.

Maya.

Are you okay? This is insane, please call me.

She just couldn't talk right now, so she'd call back later, her mind was completely blank and words wouldn't come out.

Marcus was dead.

The person responsible for leaking her private medical information, using Elena in a hurtful way, and trying to ruin their marriage and take what was rightfully theirs is DEAD, and Selene didn’t know how to feel about it.

Relief? Guilt? Or shock?

All of it and none of it.

“We should eat something,” Avalon said.

“I’m not hungry.”

“Neither am I but we should—”

The doorbell rang and they both froze.

It was 8 o'clock on a Saturday morning, and the place was empty, not a single person could just drop by that early.

Avalon walked to the intercom. “ Yes?”

"Hi, I'm Detective Sarah Toms with the San Francisco Police Department. I need to talk to you and your wife, Mr. Pierce.

Can I come up and have a chat with you both? I'd really appreciate it if you could spare a few minutes."

Selene’s stomach dropped.

Avalon's gaze met hers, and she saw her own fear staring back at her, mirrored in his eyes.

He thought to himself, "Should I call Diana first?" as he spoke into the intercom.

"I understand where you're coming from, Mr. Pierce, and I respect that. Now, I just need to go over a few things with you, nothing out of the ordinary, just a standard follow-up. You're not in any kind of trouble, and we're not investigating you, this is all just routine. Can you bear with me for a few minutes while I ask you some questions?"

Yet, the word hung unspoken.

Avalon buzzed her up.

Detective Sarah Toms walked into the living room two minutes later, a woman in her mid-forties with sharp, observant eyes and a worn leather portfolio clutched in her hand.

"I appreciate you seeing me," she said, recognizing the trouble it might have caused. "I know it's not the most convenient time."

Avalon turned to her and asked, "What can we help you with, Detective?"

We are investigating the death of Marcus Pierce and currently, it's being treated as suspicious. We're still waiting to get the autopsy results, which will help us figure out what really happened.

“Suspicious?” Selene heard herself say. “ The news said suicide.”

"The news is all over the place, but we're not making any decisions just yet," Detective Tom said, pulling out her notebook. "Can you tell me, when last did you both see Marcus Pierce?"

“Tuesday,” Avalon said. “ At the board meeting.”

“And how did he seem?”

“Confident. Smug. Like he’d won something.”

“Did he make any threats? Say anything unusual?”

He said the war was still a long way to go, just because we won this one fight, it didn't mean we'd won everything. We still had a lot of work to do, and the war was far from being over.

Detective Toms jotted down some notes on her pad, her eyes fixed on the two individuals in front of her.

"So, I want to know, after that meeting we talked about, did either of you have any more dealings with Marcus?" She paused, her pen hovering over her notebook, waiting for a response.

“No,” Selene said.

“No phone calls? Texts? Emails?”

“Nothing.”

“What about through intermediaries? Lawyers? Other board members?”

We were done with Marcus, anyway. The medical records leak was already behind us - we'd filed our complaints and were moving forward, there were other things on our agenda, but Avalon's voice just faded away.

Detective Tom's looked up. “ Planning to what?”

Selene felt ice in her veins.

Planning to destroy him. To expose his tax fraud, his affair and everything hidden but we heard the news of his death before we could.

Avalon claimed they would leave it to the law to handle the situation.

Detective Toms expression said she didn’t believe them.

"Mr. Pierce, I'm afraid I have some difficult news to share with you. We recently learned that Marcus Pierce had passed away, with the time of death estimated to be between midnight and 3 AM on Friday. According to the medical examiner's report, his system contained a significant amount of sleeping pills, and a note was discovered at the scene. However, there are certain inconsistencies in the evidence that have raised some red flags, and we feel it's essential to conduct a more thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death. We need to carefully examine the details to ensure we understand what really happened."

“What kind of inconsistencies?”

"These are the things that make me wonder if it wasn't just a coincidence." She flipped to the next page, quickly scanning the information. "Can you tell me, where were both of you on Thursday night, let's say between midnight and 3 in the morning?"

“Here,” Avalon said immediately. “ Asleep.”

“Can anyone verify that?”

“Each other.”

“Anyone else? Security footage? Or door logs?”

Avalon's jaw tightened, his voice low and serious. "Since we're in a private building, security doesn't really monitor what goes on inside. We're pretty much on our own in here, relying on each other to watch our backs."

“I see.” More notes. “ Mr. Pierce, you and Marcus were engaged in a contentious legal battle over your grandmother’s will. Is that correct?”

“Yes and that battle had gotten quite ugly. Medical records leaked to the press, public accusations, board meetings and depositions. Marcus started all of that.”

”Was it really a case of him taking a stand, or did he just question the validity of a will that he thought was fake?“

 ”He went behind my back and shared my wife's private medical information without our consent, which is not only a huge mistake, but also a deeply personal betraya, that feels like a direct attack on our family.

“Were you angry about that?”

“Of course I was angry.”

“Angry enough to want him gone?”

Selene stood up, looking really serious. "We should probably call our lawyer," she said.

Detective Toms raised her hand, her face calm and collected. "You're right, that is your right," she said. But, people are talking, your uncle whom you've been having a ruckus with winds up dead just two days after a public altercation. You have the power, connection, money and motive if you ask me..

“We didn’t kill Marcus,” Avalon said flatly.

"I understand what you're saying, but I still have to ask, it's just part of what I do.“

“Are we suspects?”

Detective Toms stood up from her chair. "When we're investigating something, we have to consider everyone a possible suspect until we can rule them out," he said. "Now, I need to get official statements from both of you. You can have a lawyer with you if you want - that's completely up to you and we can do this down at the police station, or I can come back here with someone to take notes - whichever you're more comfortable with. Just let me know what you'd prefer." She looked at them, waiting to see what they would say. "This is just a normal part of how we do things," she added. "We need to make sure we get everything written down and on record."

Selene said. "We will meet at the station, and our lawyer will be joining us.

Detective Toms handed Avalon a card on Monday morning at 9 AM. "If you recall anything about your last meeting with Marcus, no matter how small, give me a call," she said.

Avalon took the card, his eyes scanning it briefly before looking up at the detective. The morning was already shaping up to be a long one, and this was just the beginning.

Selene and Avalon just stood there, not saying a word, after she had gone.

“She thinks we did it,” Selene whispered. It seems like she thinks someone is to blame, but for some reason, we're the ones getting picked on.

“ She said we have motive.”

“Because Marcus made sure everyone knew we had motive. The lawsuit, the depositions, the leaked records—it all created a public narrative that we wanted him gone.”

Selene wasn't feeling well. " We had plans to take him down," she said. " We even hired some investigators to dig up dirt on him. And boy, did they find some stuff - like how he was cheating on his taxes and having an affair. We were all set to use that against him, but..."

"Avalon grabbed her, holding her tight. ' Stop,' he whispered urgently. ' We were going to take them to court, not kill them.'"

“Will the police see it that way?”

“They will when Diana explains it.”

Selene’s phone rang.

Diana, like she’d been summoned.

Avalon answered on speaker. “ You heard.”

I just got a call from Margaret, she's a bit worried because the police want to ask you some questions, is everything okay?

“They think we killed Marcus.”

“Did you?”

“Hell no.”

”I've got it, just keep everything on hold until I arrive, alright? I'm heading over.“

Avalon walked to the window after the call ended and he just stared out at the Bay.

“This is what he wanted,” he said quietly.

“What?”

“Marcus. He wanted us to suffer even if it destroyed him. The lawsuit, the depositions, the medical records—none of it was really about the money. It was about making us pay.”

“Pay for what?”

Avalon's eyes locked onto hers, a deep sadness and anger swirling in them. "We've been given so much," he said, his voice barely above a whisper, yet rough with emotion. They had been chosen, loved, and handed everything their father never had - Nene's approval, the inheritance, and most importantly, each other. He paused, his gaze burning with an intense passion. Even in death, their father still managed to find ways to make them suffer, to make them pay for the very things they had been given. It was as if he was still reaching out from beyond the grave, his presence a constant reminder of the pain he had left behind. Avalon's words hung in the air, a poignant reminder of the weight they carried, the burden of their father's legacy.

Selene went up to him and said, "Don't worry, we will get through this, together we can do it."

“Will we? The police already thinks we’re murderers. The board is probably already discussing my resignation. The press is going to have a field day—billionaire heir under investigation for uncle’s death.”

“We didn’t do anything wrong.”

“That doesn’t always matter.”

As Selene was on the verge of speaking,  Avalon's phone abruptly rang, showing a number she didn't recognize on the screen.

He answered warily. “ Hello?”

A voice Selene didn’t recognize. It was a smooth male voice.

"Mr. Pierce, I'm really sorry to hear about your uncle. Losing someone close is never easy, and I can only imagine how tough this must be for you right now."

“Who is this?”

“Someone with information you need about your uncle's death , about who he was really working with and who wanted him dead.”

Avalon's fingers wrapped tightly around the phone, her knuckles turning white as he struggled to make sense of the conversation.

"What are you even talking about?" He demanded, trying to keep his tone steady, but a thread of confusion wove its way into his voice, betraying his growing unease.

"I'd rather not talk about this over the phone, so let's meet in person instead. How about tomorrow at Pier 39, at the north end, at 2 PM? And please, come by yourself.“

“I’m not meeting some random—”

"Marcus was a guy who kept tabs on everything. He had a record of all his hidden bank accounts, the people he did business with, and all the deals he made. Even the one that ended up getting him killed. If you want to clear your name and figure out who's really behind all this, then meet me tomorrow at 2 PM. And come by yourself, okay?“

The line went dead and Avalon just stared at his phone.

“What was that?” Selene asked.

"We just got a tip about Marcus, and it seems someone is speaking up about the people he was working with."

“Working with? Marcus was working alone.”

“Was he? Or was he was just the face of something bigger?”

Selene felt cold. “ You think someone else was involved?”

"I don't think Marcus was clever enough to plan everything by himself. I mean, think about it - the medical records getting out, the way they handled the legal side of things, and how they managed to get the media on their side - that takes a lot of money, connections, and careful planning. So, what if someone was actually helping him, or maybe even using him for their own purposes?

That's what it seems like, they didn't need him anymore so they let him go, it's like he was only useful to them for a certain period of time and after that, he was disposable.“

“Maybe.”

"You can't just go and meet them, it's not safe. What if it's a setup, a trap to get to you?"

Maybe that's what we need to clear our names.

“Avalon—”

"If we could prove that someone was calling the shots and Marcus was just a puppet, everything would change. The police would have to look elsewhere and the board would finally understand we're not to be blamed. We'd get the truth and clear our names once and for all, and the whole story would be turned upside down. We'd be able to show that we're not the ones who should be in trouble, but rather the ones who have been wrongly accused. The police would have to start fresh and look for the real person in charge, and the board would have to apologize for jumping to conclusions. We'd finally get the chance to tell our side of the story and make things right."

“Or you get hurt or worse.”

Avalon's voice was soft and calming as he pulled her in. "Don't worry, I'll be fine," he said quietly. "I'll make sure Diana knows what's happening and that security is nearby, just in case something goes wrong. But I have to do this, no matter what happens." His words were filled with determination, and his eyes locked onto hers, filled with a sense of resolve. "I promise I'll be careful," he added, his voice low and reassuring, trying to ease her concerns.

"I'm going with you, no matter what."

“No.”

“Yes. We’re in this together. Remember?”

Avalon looked at her, and what really got his attention was how determined she seemed - her face showed she wasn't going to back down.

“Together,” he agreed finally.

They held each other while everything fades away.

Marcus was dead and someone had called with information.

The police suspects them.

Somewhere, behind the scenes, another person was pulling the strings, secretly controlling everything.

Someone who’d used Marcus as a pawn, who might have killed him is now watching them.

Waiting.

Diana arrived an hour later with Margaret.

They all sat around the dinner table, looking like they were figuring out a plan for war.

“Tell me everything the detective said,” Diana instructed.

They did. They spilled everything that was discussed with the detective.

When they finished, Diana leaned back. “ They’re building a circumstantial case. Motive, means, opportunity. No direct evidence yet, but they’re fishing.”

“Can they arrest us?” Selene asked.

”Being innocent doesn't mean you're off the hook, it can still be a nightmare. The investigation can be overwhelming, with search warrants and subpoenas coming at you from all sides, and to make matters worse, it all gets splashed across the media, which is incredibly stressful. You've got to deal with the hassle of it all, even if you've done nothing wrong.“

“What do we do?”

"We will cooperate fully and provide all the necessary details, including our whereabouts and phone records, to help clear our names. After that, we just have to be patient and wait for the autopsy results to see what they reveal."

“What will those show?”

What actually went down with Marcus - did he really do it himself or was someone else in the picture?

Avalon filled them in on the phone call he had received, telling them about the mysterious stranger who had offered to share some information.“

Margaret’s expression darkened. “ Don’t go.”

“We have to.”

“You don’t. It’s obviously a setup.

"What if it’s someone who knows the truth.”

"Be careful, this feels like a trap, they might be trying to isolate you, you also have no idea what is going on in their minds. It's possible they want to harm you or frame you for something. This whole situation seems like a cliché from a bad movie - don't let your guard down, Avalon. It's just too suspicious, and you shouldn't fall for it. What if they're hiding something or trying to manipulate you? You need to be smart and stay one step ahead, don't go to meet with them alone, and make sure someone knows where you are and what's going on. This could be a recipe for disaster, so trust your instincts and stay safe.

I'm not being naive, I'm being tactical. If there's someone else in the picture, we need to be aware of it.

Diana cut in, her tone firm and serious. "If you're really set on going through with this," she said, "then we're going to do it the right way. We'll get a security team to come with us, and we'll bring some recording devices to capture everything that happens. We'll also make sure we have a solid plan in place for getting out of there safely." She paused for a moment, then added, "And I'm definitely coming with you - that's not up for debate."

“They said alone.”

"They can either put up with me being there or deal with the fact that nobody will be there at all.

The meeting continued for another hour. Plans, contingencies, worst-case scenarios.“

When Diana and Margaret finally left, Selene and Avalon collapsed onto the sofa.

“This is insane,” Selene said.

“Welcome to the Pierce family. Where even death doesn’t end the drama.”

Despite everything, Selene almost smiled.

Avalon's phone suddenly came to life, shattering the quiet. She looked down and saw a text from a number she didn't know.

I know what you’re planning tomorrow. Don’t trust the stranger. Marcus kept records, yes, but they’re not where you think and the person who killed him is closer than you realize. Watch your back, nephew.

Avalon showed Selene the screen.

“Who sent that?” she whispered.

“I don’t know. But whoever it is knows about tomorrow’s meeting. Which means either the stranger told someone or—”

“Or someone’s been listening to our calls.”

They looked at each other.

Their phones, their apartment and conversations.

How long had someone been watching?

And if Marcus was killed because he became a liability—

What did that make them?