Chapter 10 - THE NAME
Police found Thomas alive.
Barely.
Someone had attacked him in the parking lot outside a grocery store.
His phone was gone.
But he had hidden something else.
An envelope taped beneath the spare tire of his truck.
Inside was a photocopy of a legal document.
MARRIAGE LICENSE APPLICATION.
Adrian stared at it.
His name appeared beside Claire’s.
Nothing unusual.
Until Marcus pointed to the date.
“This was filed six weeks after your accident.”
Adrian frowned.
“We weren’t married.”
“No.”
Elena looked over Marcus’s shoulder.
“Then why file it?”
Marcus turned the page.
Attached was a draft amendment to Adrian’s family trust.
If Adrian married before age forty, his spouse received temporary control of his voting shares if he became medically incapacitated.
Adrian felt his stomach twist.
“My father wrote that provision.”
Marcus nodded.
“He assumed your wife would protect the company if something happened to you.”
Elena said quietly, “Claire knew.”
“Only three people knew.”
Adrian looked at Marcus.
“You.”
“Yes.”
“My father.”
“Dead nine years.”
“And Grant?”
Marcus hesitated.
“He helped restructure the trust tax provisions.”
Adrian laughed bitterly.
“So the accident wasn’t about killing me.”
Marcus shook his head.
“Probably not at first.”
They wanted Adrian frightened.
Injured.
Dependent.
Then married.
Once Claire became his wife, a declaration of medical incapacity could have handed her temporary control of his voting block.
Grant would run the company.
Claire would control Adrian’s shares.
And Northline would keep draining money.
But Adrian postponed the wedding after the crash.
Then he began recovering faster than expected.
The plan changed.
Elena whispered:
“That’s why she said you weren’t supposed to recover.”
Adrian sat silently.
Memories came back differently now.
Claire insisting on managing his medication.
Claire sitting in every doctor’s appointment.
Claire telling board members Adrian was confused.
Claire discouraging visitors.
Claire saying:
You don’t need to worry about business anymore.
I’ll handle everything.
He had mistaken control for care.
His phone buzzed.
A photo message.
Claire standing beside his sister, Julia.
Adrian shot to his feet.
“What the hell?”
The message below the photo read:
COME ALONE.
NO POLICE.
OLD COLE HOUSE.
Elena saw his face.
“What?”
Adrian showed her.
“My sister.”
Marcus grabbed his arm.
“You’re not going alone.”
“I am if she has Julia.”
Detective Park called immediately after seeing the message.
“She wants you emotional.”
“She has my sister.”
“We don’t know that.”
Adrian called Julia.
No answer.
Again.
Nothing.
Then Claire sent another photo.
Julia’s phone lying on a wooden floor.
Adrian recognized the room.
His childhood home.
Elena looked at him.
“This is a trap.”
“I know.”
“You still want to go?”
Adrian picked up his cane.
“Yes.”
Elena stepped in front of him.
“Then this time, you’re not deciding for everyone.”
May you like
She grabbed her coat.
“I’m coming with you.”
