Chapter 9 - FIRE IN THE SNOW
The flare crashed through the broken window.
It landed on an old rug beside the fireplace.
Flames climbed the fabric instantly.
Smoke rolled toward the ceiling.
Mercer returned fire through the window.
Malcolm dropped behind the porch railing.
Marcus moved toward the rear of the cabin.
Nathan grabbed the cedar box and followed Agent Sinclair through the kitchen.
“We need the ledger outside,” she said.
Mercer covered them as they reached the back door.
Marcus appeared between the trees.
His handgun pointed directly at Nathan.
“You should have stayed out of my family.”
Nathan stepped in front of Agent Sinclair.
“You brought your family to my door.”
“Sarah belongs to me.”
“No one belongs to you.”
Marcus smiled.
“You still talk like a man who thinks money makes him powerful.”
“No.”
Nathan looked at the burning cabin.
“Standing between you and those children makes me powerful.”
Marcus fired.
Mercer struck Nathan from the side.
The bullet passed close enough to tear his coat.
Agent Sinclair fired twice.
Marcus disappeared behind a tree.
Malcolm ran from the porch toward the SUV.
He carried a gasoline container.
Mercer aimed at him.
“Drop it.”
Malcolm threw the container toward the cabin instead.
A bullet struck his shoulder before he could ignite it.
He fell into the snow.
Marcus reached the SUV.
Nathan ran after him.
Mercer shouted for him to stop.
Marcus started the engine.
Nathan grabbed the driver’s door before it closed.
Marcus struck him across the face with the gun.
Nathan fell against the snow.
The SUV accelerated.
It reached the road and disappeared between the trees.
Agent Sinclair kept the ledger.
The cabin burned until firefighters arrived.
The apple tree survived.
Malcolm was taken into custody.
At the hospital, he demanded an attorney and refused to answer questions.
The ledger answered enough.
Federal agents raided clinics, offices, and accounts across three states.
Judge Kane was arrested inside her courthouse chambers.
More than twenty officials were suspended.
Nathan’s foundation accounts were frozen temporarily while investigators separated legitimate aid from fraudulent payments.
News outlets reported that Nathan was under investigation.
His reputation began collapsing before he could explain what happened.
Headlines questioned whether a celebrated surgeon had used sick children to build a private fortune.
Donors withdrew support.
The hospital suspended Nathan from administrative duties.
Marcus had predicted it perfectly.
He had spent years preparing the world to believe Nathan was the criminal.
When Nathan returned to Sarah’s hospital room, she saw the bruise on his face.
“He found you.”
“Yes.”
“Did he get the ledger?”
“No.”
Sarah looked relieved.
Then Nathan’s phone rang.
It was Rosa.
Her voice trembled.
“Dr. Pierce, someone entered the pediatric floor.”
Nathan’s heart stopped.
“Where are the children?”
“The twins are here.”
“And Lily?”
May you like
Rosa began crying.
“Lily is gone.”
