Chapter 4 - THE MANAGER'S DARKEST SECRET
Victor Hale backed away from the table.
"That's ridiculous."
Maxwell turned toward him.
"Your wife worked for my family?"
Victor swallowed.
"She was a private nurse. Years ago."
"Her name."
"Marianne."
Maxwell's security chief, Raymond Cole, immediately checked his phone.
A photograph appeared.
Marianne Hale.
Former private nurse.
Employed by the Gallow household for six months before Olivia disappeared.
Dismissed without explanation.
Maxwell looked up.
"Where is she?"
Victor's expression collapsed.
"I don't know."
"Don't lie to me."
"I'm not lying!"
Charlie suddenly grabbed Audrey's wrist.
He was staring at the restaurant's side entrance.
Audrey followed his gaze.
A woman wearing a dark coat had stopped just inside the doorway.
She had short blond hair.
A pale face.
And eyes that were fixed on Charlie.
The boy began shaking.
Audrey immediately signed.
"STAY WITH ME."
The woman saw them communicating.
Her expression changed.
Then she turned and ran.
"Raymond!" Maxwell shouted.
Security moved.
But the woman disappeared through the emergency exit.
Victor sank into a nearby chair.
"She's going to kill me."
Maxwell stepped closer.
"Who?"
Victor covered his face.
"Adrian Cross."
Audrey felt Charlie move against her side.
Victor began talking rapidly.
Marianne had once worked for Adrian's private medical company.
When Olivia discovered irregular payments flowing through one of Maxwell's charitable foundations, she began investigating.
Adrian panicked.
He needed Olivia silenced.
Marianne agreed to help.
But Victor insisted he had never known the entire plan.
"They told me Olivia was leaving her husband," he whispered.
"They said she needed a private place to recover."
Maxwell's hands curled into fists.
"Where did they take her?"
Victor shook his head.
"I don't know."
Then Charlie signed something.
Audrey watched carefully.
"THE BLUE HOUSE."
Maxwell turned.
"What blue house?"
Charlie signed again.
"THE PLACE WITH THE LIGHTHOUSE."
Victor's face drained of color.
Audrey noticed.
"You know it."
Victor stared at the floor.
Finally, he whispered:
"There's an abandoned rehabilitation center near Half Moon Bay."
Maxwell took one step toward him.
Victor began trembling.
"Adrian bought it through a shell company."
Then his phone rang.
A message appeared on the screen.
Victor read it.
And started crying.
Maxwell took the phone.
The message contained a photograph of Audrey's younger sister, Amanda, leaving a medical clinic.
May you like
Below it were seven words.
"CONTROL THE WAITRESS OR THE SISTER DISAPPEARS."
