Chapter 11 - The Shooting That Was Meant to Destroy His Name
The truth about Caleb's shooting was worse than anything I'd imagined.
Owen hadn't simply wanted him dead.
He'd wanted the world to believe Caleb had ordered the murders of three people preparing to expose financial crimes inside Mercer Holdings.
If Caleb survived, he'd be blamed.
If he died, Owen would inherit control through the forged succession agreement.
Either way, Owen intended to win.
Patricia sat across from Elizabeth Warren, trembling.
Her daughter had been located safely after investigators acted on the information she provided.
Only then did Patricia agree to speak openly.
"I changed the medication records," she admitted.
I looked down.
She'd helped make Caleb appear confused and exhausted when he needed strength most.
Patricia continued.
"Owen told me the shooting had gone wrong. Caleb survived when he wasn't supposed to."
Elizabeth took careful notes.
"Who planned it?"
Patricia swallowed.
"Owen and Evelyn Hart."
My stomach tightened.
Caleb had once trusted Owen with his businesses.
And he'd trusted Evelyn with his heart.
Now both had betrayed him.
Patricia explained that Evelyn had arranged the private dinner downtown.
Owen controlled the security schedule.
A false emergency diverted Caleb's usual driver.
And someone inside his protection team communicated his movements.
But there was something else.
"The three witnesses were supposed to be at the restaurant," Patricia said.
Caleb frowned.
"What witnesses?"
She slid a photograph across the table.
Three people stood outside a federal courthouse.
An older man.
A woman in her fifties.
And a younger man wearing glasses.
I recognized the older man immediately.
My father.
Thomas Holloway.
I covered my mouth.
"Dad?"
Patricia looked at me.
"Your father was one of the original witnesses. After he died, his records passed to two colleagues."
My heart raced.
"Who?"
She pointed toward the photograph.
"Margaret Bell and Nathan Cole."
Elizabeth leaned forward.
"Are they alive?"
Patricia nodded.
"Yes. They were moved before the dinner."
Caleb looked toward Gabriel.
"Who warned them?"
Gabriel hesitated.
"Vincent."
His brother had known about the planned attack.
He'd tried to prevent it.
But Caleb was still shot.
For several seconds, the room remained silent.
Then Caleb looked toward Patricia.
"Did Owen tell you why he wanted those witnesses dead?"
She nodded slowly.
"They had records showing he'd been stealing from employee pension funds for years."
Caleb lowered his eyes.
The same crime his mother had once fought against.
The same crime Vincent had tried to expose.
The same crime my father had spent his life investigating.
Everything connected.
Patricia then produced a small memory card.
"I copied this before Owen locked the vault."
Gabriel arranged for an independent forensic specialist to examine it.
The recording showed the private dinner entrance.
Caleb stepping outside.
His driver approaching.
Then a man in a dark coat moving behind the SUV.
A flash.
Caleb falling.
I covered my mouth.
The image froze.
The specialist enlarged the man's face.
Everyone stared.
It wasn't Owen.
It wasn't Vincent.
It was Gabriel Shaw.
May you like
Caleb's current head of security.
The man standing beside us.
