Chapter 12 - FIRE IN THE WOODS
Richard poured gasoline along the side of the cabin.
Police shouted.
“DROP IT!”
He ignored them.
Daniel ran toward him.
“No!”
Richard struck a match.
Daniel tackled him.
They crashed into the dirt.
The match fell harmlessly.
Richard punched Daniel across the jaw.
Daniel hit back.
Five years of hatred exploded between them.
“You should’ve stayed dead!” Richard screamed.
Daniel drove his fist into Richard’s stomach.
“You threatened my son!”
Richard laughed.
“He was never your son once I signed the adoption.”
I ran forward.
Marcus grabbed my arm.
“Stay back!”
Richard reached for a knife.
Daniel saw it too late.
The blade went into his side.
“Daniel!”
He collapsed.
Richard ran.
Police chased him.
I dropped beside Daniel.
Blood spread across his shirt.
“Stay with me.”
He smiled weakly.
“You always were bossy.”
“Don’t joke.”
“I missed you.”
“Daniel.”
“I did.”
Paramedics rushed in.
He grabbed my wrist.
“There’s something you need to know.”
“What?”
“My grandfather’s trust.”
“I know about Ethan.”
“No.”
Daniel coughed.
“Not everything.”
“What?”
“There’s a clause.”
“What clause?”
“If someone attempts to fraudulently control Ethan’s shares…”
His eyes closed briefly.
“Daniel!”
He opened them again.
“…their ownership in any connected company can be challenged.”
I stared at him.
“Richard’s company?”
Daniel nodded.
“Whitman Holdings bought Carter stock using illegal proxies.”
Marcus overheard.
“How much?”
“Enough.”
Daniel coughed again.
“To destroy them.”
Paramedics lifted him onto a stretcher.
I followed.
Behind us, officers returned.
Marcus looked at them.
“Where’s Richard?”
One officer shook his head.
“He got away.”
My stomach twisted.
“How?”
“Vehicle hidden near the ridge.”
Then my phone rang.
Ethan’s babysitter.
I answered.
“Amanda?”
She was crying.
My heart stopped.
“What happened?”
“The front door was open.”
“No.”
“I can’t find Ethan.”
The world disappeared beneath my feet.
Then a text arrived from Richard.
A photograph.
May you like
Ethan asleep in the back seat of a car.
COME GET YOUR SON.
