Chapter 17 - THE CLINIC
Vale never reached Geneva.
The aircraft filed a flight plan.
Then changed course.
French authorities tracked it toward a smaller airport near Lyon.
Bennett coordinated internationally.
Nathan remained in London with Jamie.
He wanted to chase every answer.
He also finally understood Amelia’s instruction.
Choose Jamie.
So he stayed.
Thomas traveled to Switzerland with investigators to inspect the clinic records.
Sophie kept Lily with her.
Claire returned to Edinburgh under protection.
Eleanor remained in custody.
Adrian remained in custody.
Simon remained in custody.
Peter remained in custody.
For the first time, almost every major participant was contained.
Except Vale.
Nathan sat beside Jamie at breakfast the next morning.
The boy pushed strawberries around his plate.
“Daddy?”
“Yes?”
“Are we going home?”
Nathan hesitated.
“Not to the big house yet.”
“Why?”
“Because police are still working there.”
Jamie nodded.
“Can Nora come wherever we go?”
Nathan looked toward her.
She stood near the window.
“Yes.”
Jamie smiled.
“Good.”
Nathan felt relief at something simple.
Then Jamie asked.
“Will Grandma come?”
Nathan answered carefully.
“No.”
The boy visibly relaxed.
Nathan hated his mother again.
Not because of money.
Not because of poison.
Because a child relaxed when told his grandmother would not appear.
His phone rang.
Thomas.
Nathan answered.
“What did you find?”
Thomas sounded angry.
“The clinic knew.”
“Knew what?”
“That the evaluations were not medically necessary.”
Nathan stood.
“Explain.”
“Simon paid them.”
“How much?”
“Three million in donations through a foundation.”
Nathan closed his eyes.
“Who arranged the appointments?”
“Vale.”
“For what purpose?”
“To classify both children as requiring long-term trustee supervision.”
Nathan felt sick.
“Jamie is five.”
“I know.”
“Lily is nine.”
“I know.”
Thomas continued.
“They had draft evaluations already prepared.”
Nathan stared.
“Before examining them?”
“Yes.”
“What did they say?”
“Jamie had severe emotional instability after his mother’s death.”
Nathan’s hand tightened.
“He does not.”
“I know.”
“Lily?”
“Behavioral disturbance related to secret parentage.”
Nathan cursed.
Thomas continued.
“The recommendations gave trustees authority over education, residence, and financial decisions.”
“For how long?”
“Potentially until adulthood.”
Nathan closed his eyes.
A legal cage built with medical language.
“Who was to become supervising trustee?”
“Simon.”
Nathan laughed bitterly.
“Of course.”
Thomas paused.
“There’s more.”
“What?”
“The appointment was not September 14 originally.”
Nathan frowned.
“When?”
“Last year.”
Nathan froze.
“What?”
“It was postponed.”
“Why?”
“Amelia died.”
Nathan’s pulse quickened.
“That makes no sense.”
Thomas explained.
“The original plan involved Jamie only.”
“He was three.”
“Yes.”
“Why would Amelia agree?”
“She didn’t.”
Nathan went still.
“The clinic has emails.”
“What emails?”
“Amelia threatened legal action.”
Nathan’s throat tightened.
“She knew.”
“Yes.”
“She knew they were trying to classify Jamie.”
“She stopped it.”
Nathan looked toward his son.
Amelia had protected him even before Nathan knew there was a threat.
“What happened after she died?”
“Eleanor postponed everything.”
Nathan frowned.
“Why?”
“She apparently refused to continue without Amelia’s consent.”
Nathan was surprised.
“Mother stopped it?”
“Yes.”
That did not absolve Eleanor.
But it showed the internal conflict again.
Simon pushed beyond her lines.
Vale later resumed the plan.
Then Lily was added.
Thomas continued.
“There’s an email from Vale to Simon.”
“Read it.”
Thomas did.
Eleanor remains emotionally compromised regarding the children.
We may need to proceed without her.
Nathan closed his eyes.
His mother had been monstrous.
But even she had lines Vale and Simon intended to cross.
Then another email.
Simon to Vale.
Eleanor is useful because she believes she is protecting blood.
When she becomes inconvenient, Adrian can replace her.
Nathan stared.
“And Adrian knew?”
“Not according to the emails.”
Nathan laughed bitterly.
“Finally, something he did not know.”
Thomas continued.
“One more thing.”
Nathan waited.
“Amelia contacted someone at the clinic.”
“Who?”
“A nurse named Elise Martin.”
“What happened?”
“She resigned two days after Amelia died.”
“Where is she?”
“We’re looking.”
Nathan rubbed his face.
Every time Amelia’s trail appeared, another witness had vanished.
The door opened.
Nora entered.
“Jamie wants to show you something.”
Nathan turned.
Jamie held Mr. Buttons.
The stuffed rabbit looked old.
One button eye had been repaired twice.
“What?”
Jamie held it out.
“He makes a noise.”
Nathan frowned.
“What noise?”
Jamie squeezed the rabbit’s belly.
A faint click sounded.
Nathan stared.
“Do it again.”
Click.
Nora looked puzzled.
“That’s new.”
Nathan took the rabbit.
He felt inside the fabric.
Something hard rested beneath the stuffing.
His blood turned cold.
“Where did you get Mr. Buttons?”
Jamie frowned.
“Mommy.”
Nathan’s chest tightened.
Amelia had bought the rabbit before Jamie was born.
Had something been hidden inside later?
He called Bennett.
A technician carefully opened one seam.
Inside was a tiny plastic capsule.
Nathan stared.
Not a tracker.
A memory card.
His hands began shaking.
Amelia.
She had hidden something in Jamie’s favorite toy.
Perhaps because she knew Eleanor would search documents.
Rooms.
Jewelry.
Not a child’s stuffed rabbit.
The memory card contained one video.
Amelia appeared on-screen.
Nathan stopped breathing.
She sat in Jamie’s nursery.
Mr. Buttons was visible behind her.
Her eyes were red.
“Nathan.”
His throat closed.
“If you are watching this, then I was not able to tell you in person.”
Nathan covered his mouth.
Jamie looked at the screen.
“Mommy.”
Nathan pulled him close.
Amelia continued.
“I need you to know something first.”
“You were never weak.”
Nathan closed his eyes.
“They are using your grief and your trust against you.”
“You trust people because you believe love creates limits.”
“In this family, it does not.”
Nathan felt tears roll down his face.
Jamie touched his cheek.
“Daddy.”
“I’m okay.”
Amelia continued.
“Your mother frightens me.”
“But Simon frightens me more.”
“Adrian frightens me because he is desperate.”
“And Jonathan frightens me because he can call cruelty treatment if the paperwork is clean enough.”
Nathan stared.
Amelia had seen them all clearly.
“I discovered the clinic.”
“They want to create records about Jamie.”
“Not because he is ill.”
“Because a child with a diagnosis is easier for trustees to control.”
Nathan’s jaw clenched.
“I stopped the appointment.”
“But I do not think that ends it.”
She looked away.
Then back.
“There is someone helping me.”
Nathan leaned closer.
“I have not told you because I cannot risk their identity.”
“If I die, find Elise Martin.”
Nathan’s pulse quickened.
“She has the original clinic records.”
Thomas was already looking for her.
Amelia continued.
“And find Rachel Vale.”
Nathan looked at Nora.
Rachel.
Vale’s daughter.
“She knows more than her father realizes.”
Nathan felt a chill.
Rachel had claimed she discovered Vale’s actions later.
Amelia’s video suggested Rachel knew years ago.
Maybe she had been secretly helping.
“Rachel is afraid.”
“But she has been copying Simon’s files.”
“If she ever tells you she started only after I died, she is lying.”
Nathan stared.
Nora whispered.
“Oh no.”
Amelia continued.
“Do not assume that means she is against you.”
“She lies because Simon threatened her mother.”
Nathan frowned.
Vale’s wife had died years ago according to public records.
Or had she?
Amelia’s voice lowered.
“Jonathan told everyone Rachel’s mother died in an accident.”
“She didn’t.”
Nathan stopped breathing.
“What?”
Jamie looked confused.
Amelia continued.
“Her name is Catherine Vale.”
“She is alive.”
“And Simon has been using her location to control both Jonathan and Rachel.”
Nathan stared.
Vale’s complicity suddenly had another dimension.
Not absolution.
But leverage.
Amelia continued.
“I do not know where Catherine is.”
“Rachel may.”
“If Jonathan ever appears willing to risk everything, it may mean Simon no longer controls Catherine.”
The video flickered.
Then Amelia smiled sadly.
“And one last thing.”
Nathan’s chest tightened.
“Do not teach Jamie to preserve Harcourt.”
“Teach him to be kind.”
“The name has enough guardians.”
“He needs a father.”
The video ended.
Nathan sat motionless.
Jamie touched the screen.
“Mommy went away.”
Nathan pulled him onto his lap.
“Yes.”
“Was she scared?”
“Yes.”
“Was she brave?”
Nathan looked at his son.
“Very.”
Jamie thought.
“Like me with the cake?”
Nathan’s throat closed.
“Yes.”
“Exactly like you.”
Jamie smiled faintly.
Nora wiped her eyes.
Nathan called Rachel immediately.
She answered.
“Rachel.”
“Amelia left a video.”
Silence.
Nathan continued.
“She said you were helping her before she died.”
Rachel did not speak.
“She said Catherine is alive.”
A quiet sob came through the phone.
Nathan closed his eyes.
“Where is your mother?”
Rachel whispered.
“I don’t know.”
“You did once?”
“No.”
“Simon sends proof every year.”
Nathan felt cold.
“Proof of what?”
“That she is alive.”
“Where?”
“Different places.”
“He moved her.”
“Why?”
“Because my father tried to expose him fifteen years ago.”
Nathan stared.
Vale had been compromised far longer than anyone knew.
“What happened?”
“My father discovered Simon forging trust documents.”
“He confronted him.”
“Simon learned my mother had untreated addiction problems.”
“He arranged private treatment.”
Nathan frowned.
“That sounds helpful.”
“At first.”
Rachel’s voice shook.
“Then he moved her to another facility without telling us.”
“He told my father she would disappear if he ever went to police.”
Nathan felt sick.
“And Vale obeyed for fifteen years.”
“Yes.”
“Even drugging me.”
“Yes.”
Rachel began crying.
“I begged him to stop.”
Nathan’s anger toward Vale remained.
But now he understood the depth of the cage.
“Why didn’t you tell Amelia where Catherine was?”
“I didn’t know.”
“Why did Amelia think you could help?”
“Because I copied Simon’s files for her.”
Nathan nodded.
“Where are the copies?”
Rachel became silent.
“Rachel.”
“I gave them to Elise.”
Nathan’s pulse quickened.
“Where is Elise?”
Silence.
“Rachel.”
“She lives in France.”
“Where?”
Rachel gave the location.
Near Lyon.
Nathan’s heart stopped.
Vale’s diverted flight had headed toward Lyon.
Not Geneva.
He had not been running to the clinic.
He had been running to Elise.
“Why would your father go there?”
Rachel answered immediately.
“Because Elise knows where my mother is.”
Nathan stared.
Vale had escaped not merely to hide.
He was trying to find Catherine.
Or reach her before someone else did.
Bennett traced the airfield.
The aircraft had landed.
Vale left in a rented car.
French police followed road-camera sightings.
Destination.
A village outside Lyon.
Elise Martin’s address.
Officers arrived.
The house was empty.
Front door open.
No struggle.
On the kitchen table sat two cups of tea.
And an envelope addressed to Nathan Harcourt.
Inside was a photograph of Amelia and Elise.
Behind it, handwritten coordinates.
Nathan looked them up.
A private rehabilitation estate in the French Alps.
Registered owner.
Kessler Fiduciary Services.
Catherine Vale had been hidden inside a property controlled by Simon.
For fifteen years.
Bennett stared at the coordinates.
“Vale may be heading there.”
Nathan nodded.
Then his phone rang.
Vale.
Nathan answered.
The doctor was breathing hard.
“I found her.”
Nathan stood.
“Catherine?”
“Yes.”
“Is she alive?”
“Yes.”
Rachel, listening on another phone, began sobbing.
Vale continued.
“But Peter is here.”
Nathan’s blood ran cold.
“Peter escaped?”
“No.”
Nathan frowned.
“Peter is in custody.”
Vale became silent.
Then whispered.
“Then the man outside isn’t Peter.”
Nathan stared.
“Who is it?”
Vale looked through a window.
His next words changed everything again.
“It’s Simon.”
Nathan froze.
“That’s impossible.”
Simon was in police custody in London.
Vale whispered.
“Nathan.”
“I am looking at him.”
May you like
Then the line went dead.
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