Chapter 12 - THE MAN HE TRUSTED
Ethan called Marcus again.
This time he answered.
“Where is my daughter?”
Marcus said nothing.
“Marcus.”
“I’m sorry.”
Ethan closed his eyes.
Thomas watched him.
“Put Lily on the phone.”
A pause.
Then Lily’s frightened voice came through.
“Daddy?”
“I’m here.”
“Are you okay?”
Even terrified, she was asking about him.
“I’m fine.”
“Are you hurt?”
“No.”
“Is Marcus hurting you?”
“No.”
Ethan heard Marcus quietly say, “I would never hurt her.”
Ethan’s anger exploded.
“You took my child.”
“I had to.”
“You had nothing.”
Marcus breathed heavily.
“Victor has my wife.”
Ethan froze.
Marcus had never spoken about a wife.
“She was declared dead twelve years ago.”
Ethan almost laughed at the cruelty.
“Another false death?”
“Yes.”
“Victor found out I had discovered financial evidence against him.”
“He kidnapped Rachel.”
“He told me she died.”
“Then three years ago, he showed me proof she was alive.”
“And you began working for him.”
“I had already worked for him before joining you.”
Thomas had been right.
Ethan’s grip tightened around the phone.
“Did you help with the hospital fire?”
“No.”
“Did you know Lily was alive?”
“Not until last year.”
“Did you know Amelia was alive?”
“Six months.”
Ethan closed his eyes.
Marcus had stood beside him.
Protected him.
Listened while Ethan mourned.
All while knowing.
“I wanted to tell you.”
“But Victor said Rachel would die.”
“So you chose my family instead.”
Marcus had no answer.
Ethan said, “Where are you taking Lily?”
“Victor left instructions.”
“Victor is in custody.”
“He prepared contingencies.”
Ethan looked at Thomas.
“What does he want?”
“The original trust amendment.”
Thomas’s face tightened.
Marcus continued.
“He believes Weller has it.”
“He does.”
Thomas shook his head urgently.
Ethan ignored him.
“Where?”
“Old Blackwood estate.”
Ethan remembered it.
A stone mansion outside the city abandoned after his grandfather died.
Marcus said, “Bring the amendment.”
“Come alone.”
“If police appear, Rachel dies.”
Ethan looked at Thomas.
“How do we know Rachel is alive?”
Marcus sent a video.
A woman sat restrained inside a dim room.
A current newspaper rested beside her.
The date was today.
Ethan felt sick.
Victor had prepared this before his arrest.
Even in custody, his machinery was still moving.
Ethan said, “I’m coming.”
He ended the call.
Thomas immediately said, “You cannot give them the trust.”
“It’s paper.”
“It controls billions.”
“My daughter controls my heart.”
Thomas fell silent.
Ethan took the original amendment.
Then he called Ramirez.
He told her everything.
“You cannot go alone.”
“I’m not.”
“He demanded it.”
“I’m going to let him believe I am.”
Thomas opened another folder.
“There’s something you should know about the old estate.”
“What?”
“Jonathan installed a private emergency system under the wine cellar.”
Ethan stared at him.
“What kind?”
“A tunnel.”
“Where does it exit?”
Thomas almost smiled.
“Your father never trusted rich men without escape routes.”
Thirty minutes later, Ethan drove toward the old estate alone.
At least that was what Marcus believed.
Ramirez’s team moved through the woods two miles away.
Thomas guided them toward the hidden tunnel.
Ethan entered the abandoned mansion.
Dust covered the floor.
A light burned beneath the basement door.
He descended.
Marcus stood beside Lily.
His weapon was lowered.
Lily ran toward Ethan.
Marcus did not stop her.
Ethan caught his daughter.
“Daddy.”
“I’ve got you.”
Marcus looked shattered.
“I’m sorry.”
“Where is Rachel?”
“Below us.”
A voice came through a speaker.
“Place the trust document on the table.”
Ethan recognized Victor’s voice.
Recorded?
No.
Live.
“Victor?”
A laugh came through the speaker.
“You really thought a holding cell could contain a Blackwood?”
Ethan’s stomach dropped.
Ramirez’s voice suddenly came through his hidden earpiece.
“Ethan.”
“Victor escaped transport twenty minutes ago.”
May you like
Then footsteps echoed somewhere beneath the cellar.
Victor Blackwood was coming home.
