Chapter 15 - The Chauffeur’s Secret
Samuel Briggs had driven the Whitman family for nine years.
He retired six months after Laura’s death.
Officially, it was because of arthritis.
In reality, he had moved to Vermont and purchased a farmhouse in cash.
Grant remembered trusting him with Noah.
Laura.
Even his parents.
The betrayal hurt differently.
Samuel refused three calls.
On the fourth, Grant left a voicemail.
“Laura is still dead.”
“Noah is still in a wheelchair.”
“But you are still alive.”
“You get to decide what you do with that.”
Samuel called back ten minutes later.
They met with federal investigators present.
Samuel cried before saying a word.
Vanessa had paid him to damage the brake line.
Twenty-five thousand dollars.
Then another seventy-five thousand after the crash.
He insisted he had believed the failure would happen at low speed.
Claire did not believe him.
Neither did Grant.
But Samuel had kept the payment records.
Vanessa had used one of Richard’s shell companies.
The conspiracy was finally visible.
Money.
Motive.
Opportunity.
Witnesses.
Audio.
Video.
Laura’s letter.
Noah’s testimony.
Everything connected.
An arrest warrant was issued for Vanessa.
There was only one problem.
She had disappeared.
Her attorney claimed he did not know where she was.
Her hotel room was empty.
Her passport remained unused.
Her Mercedes was found in a parking garage near Logan Airport.
Grant doubled Noah’s security.
Claire barely slept.
At 3:12 A.M., Daniel called.
“Claire.”
His voice was shaking.
“What happened?”
“Noah is gone.”
Claire sat upright.
“What?”
“The fire alarm went off.”
“Security evacuated the building.”
“Somebody wearing an EMT jacket took him through the back stairwell.”
Claire was already putting on shoes.
“Did you see who?”
“No.”
Then another voice came through the phone.
Emily.
“They left something.”
Claire stopped.
“What?”
“A note.”
Daniel read it.
BRING LAURA’S FLASH DRIVE TO THE OLD WHITMAN COAST HOUSE.
May you like
COME ALONE.
OR YOU WILL NEVER SEE HIM AGAIN.
