Chapter 9 - The Parking Garage
Nathan had not been told Claire’s new address.
Mr. Harris had.
When the police leak was discovered, Harris called Nathan and drove him toward the apartment.
They arrived seconds before Thomas blocked the garage.
Nathan placed himself between the gun and Claire.
Thomas laughed.
“The billionaire playing father to the maid’s child.”
Nathan’s voice remained level.
“You have nowhere left to go.”
“I have sixty-two million reasons to disagree.”
Police sirens approached above them.
Thomas grabbed Claire’s arm.
She drove her elbow into his chest.
The gun fired into the concrete ceiling.
Lily screamed.
Nathan tackled Thomas.
They fell beside the SUV.
Thomas struck him with the weapon.
Mr. Harris entered from the opposite stairwell.
He ordered Thomas to drop the gun.
Thomas aimed toward Lily instead.
Claire threw the repaired blanket over his face.
For one second, he could not see.
Nathan knocked the weapon away.
Police rushed into the garage.
Thomas was arrested.
Lily clung to Claire.
The pink blanket lay on the oil-stained floor.
One embroidered flower had torn again.
Nathan picked it up.
Lily reached toward him.
“You came.”
He stopped several feet away.
“May I come closer?”
She nodded.
He knelt.
“Were you scared?”
“Yes.”
“So was I.”
Lily touched the bruise forming near his cheek.
“Big people get scared?”
“All the time.”
Claire looked at him.
He had not arrived like a hero who expected gratitude.
He had asked permission before approaching the child he helped protect.
That mattered more than the rescue itself.
At the hospital, Nathan received stitches above his ear.
Claire and Lily were unharmed.
Detectives identified the police leak.
An investigator named Paul Crane had received payments from Thomas.
He had also supervised part of Caroline’s original crash file.
The corruption reached the investigation that declared her death accidental.
Thomas offered information in exchange for reduced charges.
He claimed Caroline survived the initial crash.
Nathan stared at him through the interview-room glass.
“Where did she die?”
May you like
Thomas looked toward William.
“She did not.”
