Chapter 5 - The House Was Empty
Daniel said my father had discovered Ethan’s theft six months before his death.
Dad planned to remove him, but Ethan controlled several senior executives and had access to private information about board members.
“So my father paid you to watch my husband?” I asked.
“To watch everyone around you.”
“And the four hundred thousand?”
“A protection fund. New identity, secure housing, medical support—anything you might need if Ethan became dangerous.”
I wanted to reject the idea.
Then I remembered the elevator.
Ethan stood abruptly. “This man is unstable.”
Daniel turned on him. “Your people chased me out of the state.”
“If that were true, why come back?”
“Because Claire received the shares.”
Arthur ordered a vote.
Six directors supported an immediate audit. Four opposed it. One abstained.
The audit passed.
Ethan remained CEO for the moment, but he lost access to discretionary corporate funds.
He looked at me as though I had driven a knife into his back.
“You’ll regret this.”
Rachel stood. “Was that a threat?”
“It was a promise that she’ll understand what she’s done.”
Ethan left with Vanessa.
By the time I reached the lobby, another wave of pain tightened across my abdomen.
Rachel caught my arm.
“You’re going to the hospital.”
“It’s not labor.”
“You almost fell, got trapped in an elevator, and spent an hour fighting with your husband. We’re not guessing.”
At the hospital, the doctor confirmed the baby was fine. The pain was caused by stress and dehydration.
“You need rest,” she told me. “Real rest.”
Rachel drove me home shortly after midnight.
The front door was unlocked.
I knew I had locked it before leaving.
Rachel called the police while Daniel checked the first floor.
No one was inside.
But the house had been searched.
Drawers stood open. Books had been pulled from shelves. My father’s old files were scattered across the office floor.
The only missing item was a wooden box Dad had given me after my college graduation.
I had never been able to open it.
There was no lock, only a narrow metal slot shaped like half a key.
Daniel stared at the empty place on the shelf.
“That was it.”
“The access key?”
“Half of it.”
A sound came from upstairs.
Rachel froze.
Daniel motioned for us to stay back, then climbed the stairs.
A door slammed.
Footsteps raced across the second floor.
Daniel ran after them.
Seconds later, glass shattered.
We hurried upstairs and found the bedroom window open.
Daniel leaned outside.
“Someone jumped onto the garage roof.”
Police sirens approached.
My phone rang.
Ethan’s name filled the screen.
I answered.
His voice was calm.
“Did you find what you were looking for?”
Behind me, Rachel whispered, “Put it on speaker.”
I did.
May you like
Ethan laughed softly.
Then he said, “Ask Daniel what happened to your father’s medication.”
