Chapter 20 - NATHAN’S LAST MOVE
Nathan Pierce was indicted on charges connected to document fraud, witness intimidation and financial conspiracy.
He refused a plea deal.
Then Olivia disappeared.
Her phone was found outside school.
Robert’s blood ran cold.
Liam became frighteningly calm.
Security footage showed Olivia voluntarily entering a car.
The driver was Rachel Pierce.
Nathan’s niece.
Robert called her.
Rachel answered immediately.
“Olivia is safe.”
“Where is my daughter?”
“She came to me.”
Olivia grabbed the phone.
“Dad, I’m okay.”
Robert nearly shouted.
“Why would you disappear without telling anyone?”
“Because Rachel found something and she was scared someone was watching her.”
They met at a police station.
Rachel brought a hard drive belonging to her late mother.
Nathan had hidden copies of Hale financial records there years earlier.
It contained recorded calls.
On one, Nathan discussed threatening Grace’s daughter.
On another, he planned the burglary at Nora’s apartment.
And on the most important recording, Nathan admitted organizing the theft of Lydia’s package.
Liam listened without expression.
Rachel apologized.
“My family helped do this to yours.”
“No,” Liam said. “Nathan did.”
Rachel looked surprised.
“You’re not responsible for what your uncle did.”
Olivia looked at Liam.
Months earlier they had both struggled with guilt for something neither caused.
Now Liam was giving someone else the lesson they had learned.
The hard drive ended Nathan’s defense.
May you like
His attorneys requested negotiations the next morning.
This time, Nathan had nowhere left to hide.
