Chapter 4 - Nine Days
Victor did not panic.
That frightened Lily more than anger would have.
He read Serena’s message twice.
Then handed the phone to his head of security.
“Trace it.”
The man nodded.
Victor crouched in front of Ethan.
“You are not leaving my sight.”
Ethan blinked.
“School?”
“No school.”
“Playground?”
“No.”
Ethan’s eyes filled.
Victor softened.
“Just for a little while.”
The police arrived before midnight.
Detective Rachel Monroe took possession of copies of Amelia’s files.
She had investigated corporate crimes for sixteen years and seemed unimpressed by the Hale family’s money.
That was why Victor trusted her.
She listened to the recording.
Read the letter.
Examined the threat.
Then looked at Victor.
“How many people knew about Ethan’s trust?”
“My father.”
“Amelia.”
“Our estate attorney.”
“Serena.”
“And maybe three board members.”
“Names.”
Victor gave them.
Detective Monroe wrote everything down.
“Where is Serena now?”
“No one knows.”
“Her car?”
“Found near the south gate.”
“Phone?”
“Off.”
“Passport?”
“At her apartment.”
Monroe looked at Lily.
“You recorded her threatening the child?”
“Yes.”
“Was she aware?”
“No.”
“Why were you recording?”
Lily hesitated.
Victor looked at her too.
She had not told him everything.
“Because this wasn’t the first time.”
Victor’s face changed.
“What?”
Lily looked at Ethan.
“I saw bruises on his arm two weeks ago.”
Victor went pale.
“He told me he fell.”
“He did.”
“After Serena told him what to say.”
Victor turned away.
Lily continued.
“She was controlling his meals.”
“Keeping him from his tutor.”
“Telling staff he had emotional problems.”
“I started recording because I thought no one would believe me.”
Victor stared at her.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
The question contained anger.
But Lily did not back down.
“You were never here.”
The room went still.
Victor looked wounded.
Lily continued.
“When you were here, Serena answered for him.”
“She answered for everyone.”
“You trusted her.”
Victor looked toward Ethan.
His son was tracing circles into the carpet with one finger.
Monroe closed her notebook.
“Mr. Hale, your son turns five in nine days.”
“Yes.”
“If Serena’s motive is tied to the trust, then those nine days matter.”
Victor understood.
“So she has a deadline.”
“Yes.”
Monroe looked at everyone in the room.
“And desperate people become more dangerous when the clock is running out.”
At 2:13 A.M., the security team traced Serena’s photograph.
It had been uploaded from a prepaid phone.
Location.
Hale Biomedical headquarters.
Victor stared at the address.
The building had been closed for the night.
May you like
Except for one restricted laboratory floor.
A floor Serena had no official access to.
