Chapter 8 - The Engagement Party Trap
I moved Emily to a secure guest suite and doubled the security around Hannah and Lily.
Celeste had crossed a line she couldn't uncross.
But I still needed proof that she and Victor had orchestrated Nicholas's death. Without it, they could destroy the evidence, manipulate the police, and use the engagement contract to seize control of my legitimate businesses.
Margaret found a clue in Nicholas's old financial records.
Three days before he died, he had transferred a small amount of money into an account under Celeste's name. The payment was marked with a reference number that matched a storage locker at the old waterfront terminal.
We searched the locker that night.
Inside was a briefcase containing photographs, shipping manifests, and a recording of a meeting between Victor and Richard Rowan.
Richard had died years earlier, but his voice was unmistakable.
“If Nicholas tells Grant about the missing money, we'll lose the routes.”
Victor answered, “Then Nicholas won't tell him.”
A third voice entered the recording.
Celeste.
“Make sure he understands that if he leaves, the children will pay for it.”
The audio ended.
Marcus looked at me.
“She knew about Lily. She knew about Emily. And she knew Nicholas was planning to leave.”
I copied the recording and sent it to Margaret.
Then my phone buzzed with a message from Celeste.
Come to the engagement party tomorrow. Bring Emily. Come alone, or Hannah and Lily disappear.
The threat was accompanied by a photograph of Hannah's hospital room.
Someone had taken it minutes earlier.
I wanted to storm Celeste's penthouse and end the threat myself.
Instead, I called the one man I trusted to handle the situation without turning it into a war.
Detective Samuel Ortiz had investigated several of my legitimate businesses and knew enough about my criminal connections to despise me.
He also knew what it meant to protect innocent people.
“I have evidence of a conspiracy,” I told him. “And a threat against a child.”
He listened without interrupting.
When I finished, he said, “Bring me everything. We can arrange protection, but I need you to follow my instructions.”
“I will.”
“Grant, one more thing. We searched Victor's office this morning.”
“What did you find?”
“A file with your name on it.”
He paused.
“According to the documents, you weren't supposed to inherit the organization.”
I gripped the phone.
May you like
“Who was?”
“Your brother Nicholas.”
