Chapter 8 - THE OTHER HEIR
There was only one other Caldwell with direct access to Nathan’s vehicles.
Daniel Caldwell.
Nathan’s cousin.
His closest friend since childhood.
Chief operating officer of Caldwell Biomedical.
Daniel had stood beside Nathan at his wedding.
He was Noah’s godfather.
And for the past six months, Daniel had repeatedly encouraged Nathan to reconcile with Margaret.
Nathan had never questioned why.
Until now.
Police pulled security footage from the pharmacy.
The man’s face was partially obscured.
But the vehicle records told the story.
Nathan’s car had left the corporate garage using a spare key registered to executive security.
The request for that key came from Daniel’s office.
Nathan called him.
No answer.
Again.
Nothing.
Laura whispered, “Don’t warn him.”
Nathan already had.
A text arrived.
I can explain.
Nathan replied.
Then explain.
Daniel called.
Nathan answered on speaker.
“Where are you?”
“Nathan, listen.”
“Where?”
“I didn’t hurt Noah.”
Claire closed her eyes.
Nathan’s voice dropped.
“I didn’t ask whether you hurt him.”
Silence.
Nathan continued.
“I asked where you are.”
“At the office.”
Hayes was already signaling officers.
Nathan said, “Why did you take my car?”
Daniel breathed out.
“Your mother asked me.”
“Why?”
“She said she needed photographs.”
“Of someone pretending to be me?”
“I didn’t know that.”
“You wore my coat.”
“She said the custody case needed evidence that you were collecting Noah’s medications while Claire was unstable.”
Nathan almost laughed.
“That makes absolutely no sense.”
“I know that now.”
“No. You knew then.”
Daniel said nothing.
Nathan’s anger sharpened.
“How much did she promise you?”
Silence.
Claire looked at him.
Nathan repeated, “How much?”
Daniel finally answered.
“The company.”
Nathan’s face went blank.
Daniel continued.
“She told me when she regained control, you would be removed.”
“Why?”
“She said you were destroying Caldwell Biomedical.”
Nathan laughed bitterly.
“We had record revenue last year.”
“This isn’t about revenue.”
“What is it about?”
“Your father’s research division.”
Nathan frowned.
“What about it?”
“You were going to shut it down.”
“The division loses forty million dollars a year.”
Daniel’s voice became urgent.
“You don’t understand what’s inside it.”
That phrase again.
Nathan hated it.
“Then tell me.”
Daniel hesitated.
“There are files your father never showed you.”
“What files?”
“Rebecca’s.”
Nathan went still.
“My mother’s?”
“She worked on the original respiratory-drug program.”
Claire looked toward Noah’s room.
Nathan felt dread.
“What does that have to do with my son?”
Daniel’s voice broke.
“I think Margaret chose Noah for more than the trust.”
The room froze.
Nathan whispered, “What does that mean?”
Daniel did not answer.
Instead, a loud sound came through the phone.
A door.
Then Daniel whispered:
“She’s here.”
Nathan stood.
“Margaret?”
Daniel’s breathing accelerated.
“No.”
“Who?”
The call ended.
Police reached Caldwell Biomedical nine minutes later.
Daniel’s office was empty.
His phone lay on the floor.
His computer screen was smashed.
But nobody had been injured.
Nobody had been seen leaving.
Security footage from the entire executive floor had been deleted.
All except a backup camera inside the elevator.
It showed Daniel entering the elevator with a woman.
Nathan stared at the still frame.
It was not Margaret.
It was Tessa.
May you like
Their nanny.
And she was holding Daniel at gunpoint.
