Chapter 11 - NOAH IS GONE

Arthur called the house.

No answer.

Again.

Nothing.

He called the backup guard.

Straight to voicemail.

Arthur ran for his car.

Maria jumped into the passenger seat.

“Drive.”

Brooks shouted after them, but Arthur was already moving.

He hit ninety before leaving the waterfront.

“Noah’s tracker,” Maria said.

Arthur opened the family tracking app.

Offline.

“No.”

“His watch?”

“Offline.”

“Tablet?”

Arthur checked.

Also offline.

Maria called the house phone.

No answer.

Arthur gripped the wheel.

“If they touch him—”

“Focus.”

“That’s my son.”

“I know.”

“No, Maria, right now I don’t need calm. I need my son.”

She grabbed his arm.

“And Noah needs his father thinking clearly.”

Arthur looked at her.

She was terrified too.

But controlled.

He breathed once.

“Okay.”

When they reached the house, the front door was open.

Arthur ran inside.

“Noah!”

Nothing.

His bedroom was empty.

One of the guards was unconscious near the panic room.

Alive.

Maria found a note on Noah’s bed.

Arthur recognized Elena’s handwriting.

I TOOK MY SON BECAUSE THIS IS THE ONLY WAY TO KEEP HIM ALIVE.

Arthur read it twice.

“What the hell does that mean?”

Maria’s phone rang.

Elena.

Arthur grabbed it.

“Where is he?”

“Arthur.”

“Where is my son?”

“He’s safe.”

“You kidnapped him.”

“I rescued him.”

“From who?”

“Daniel.”

Arthur stopped.

Maria stared at him.

Elena continued.

“I know you think I’m the monster.”

“You stole from Noah.”

“I tried.”

“You framed me.”

“No.”

“The fake photos?”

“Daniel.”

“The gun?”

“Daniel.”

“The guardianship petition?”

“That was me.”

Arthur laughed bitterly.

“Great distinction.”

“I needed legal control of Noah before Daniel did.”

“Why?”

“Because your father made a mistake.”

Arthur’s heart pounded.

“What mistake?”

“He put Daniel in Noah’s trust documents.”

Arthur frowned.

“No. I’m trustee.”

“You are while alive and competent.”

Arthur understood.

“If I’m declared incompetent…”

“Daniel becomes co-trustee.”

Maria whispered, “And if Arthur dies?”

Elena heard her.

“He becomes sole trustee until Noah turns twenty-five.”

Arthur closed his eyes.

All the pieces moved into place.

Daniel didn’t simply want him discredited.

He wanted permanent control.

“Why steal money from the trust?”

Elena’s voice cracked.

“Because Daniel told me if I didn’t help him, he’d expose what I’d done at Vance Meridian.”

“You did steal from the company.”

“Yes.”

“Was Isabel killed because of you?”

Silence.

“Elena.”

“No.”

“Then who killed her?”

“You already know.”

Arthur’s stomach twisted.

Daniel.

“Where are you?”

Elena gave him an address.

An abandoned Vance Meridian hotel project outside the city.

“Come alone.”

“No.”

“Arthur, please.”

“Why should I trust you?”

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