Chapter 6 - the man behind the silver stag)
Marcus Vale refused to believe his uncle was involved.
At first.
When Nathan returned to the hospital, he placed a photograph of Anna's letter on the table between them.
Marcus read it three times.
Then sat without speaking.
Rachel was awake upstairs.
Doctors expected a full recovery.
That should have been enough good news for one day.
It was not.
"My uncle knew your wife," Marcus said finally.
"You knew that?"
"No."
Nathan watched him closely.
Marcus rubbed his forehead.
"Harrison handled charitable partnerships for the Vale Foundation. Anna worked in financial compliance before Lily was born, didn't she?"
Nathan nodded.
"Corporate fraud investigations."
Marcus looked at the letter.
"Then maybe she investigated us."
"Did your foundation have something to hide?"
"Every organization that large has something people don't want public."
"That isn't an answer."
"No. It's the only honest answer I have."
Detective Bennett entered carrying a file.
"The flash drive is encrypted."
Nathan exhaled.
"Can you open it?"
"Eventually."
Marcus looked at her.
"What about Harrison?"
"We've requested an interview."
"Requested?"
"He's currently in Switzerland."
Marcus stared.
"He left yesterday."
Bennett nodded.
"Six hours before the wedding."
Nathan's jaw tightened.
"Convenient."
"Very."
Bennett placed another sheet down.
"We identified the suspicious server."
Nathan leaned forward.
"Name?"
"Caleb Rourke."
Marcus frowned.
"I don't know him."
"Former private security contractor. Worked several events connected to Vale properties."
Nathan thought of Lily.
"And Arden House?"
"We have one surviving payroll record."
Bennett slid it across.
Caleb Rourke.
Security consultant.
Nathan stared at the photograph.
Younger face.
Same man.
"The cake man."
"Yes."
"Where is he?"
"We don't know."
Marcus stood.
"I have security across every airport."
Bennett looked irritated.
"Your private security isn't law enforcement."
"They're faster."
Nathan barely listened.
"What about Owen Pike?"
Bennett opened another page.
"Real name unknown."
"He knew the cake was poisoned."
"Possibly because he helped arrange it."
"Or because he was trying to stop it."
Bennett nodded.
"Also possible."
Nathan remembered Owen's face.
He had looked afraid.
Not triumphant.
And he had disappeared immediately before Rachel collapsed.
Maybe because he was guilty.
Maybe because he knew the real attack was only beginning.
Lily entered with Elena.
Nathan stood.
She ran into his arms.
"How's Aunt Rachel?"
"Better."
"Is she going to die?"
"No."
Nathan said it firmly.
"No."
Lily held him tighter.
Elena looked exhausted.
"She remembered something else."
Nathan looked down.
"What?"
Lily reached into the pocket of her blue dress.
Her fingers emerged holding a small metal object.
A silver cuff link.
Black stag.
Every adult froze.
"Where did you get that?"
"The cake man dropped it."
Nathan took it carefully.
"When?"
"When I pushed the cake."
Bennett immediately produced an evidence bag.
Nathan crouched.
"Lily, why didn't you tell us?"
"I forgot."
"It's okay."
Her lower lip trembled.
"Are you mad because I broke the cake?"
Nathan's heart twisted.
He pulled her against him.
"No."
"Everyone yelled."
"You saved Aunt Rachel."
"But she still got sick."
"Because there was something in her drink too. That isn't your fault."
Lily nodded without looking convinced.
Nathan kissed her forehead.
A nurse entered.
"Mr. Vale, Rachel is asking for her brother."
Nathan went upstairs.
Rachel looked pale but awake.
When she saw him, she smiled.
"You look terrible."
Nathan laughed once.
"You almost died and you're insulting me?"
"It's therapeutic."
He sat beside her.
Rachel's smile faded.
"Marcus told me about Anna."
Nathan nodded.
"Harrison."
"I need to tell you something."
Nathan looked at her.
"Before Anna died, she called me."
His body stiffened.
"When?"
"The day before the accident."
"What did she say?"
"She asked whether I knew Harrison Vale."
Nathan slowly sat back.
"You knew this for eighteen months?"
"No. I didn't understand why it mattered."
"What else?"
Rachel looked toward the door.
"She said someone was stealing money through charities."
Nathan's stomach tightened.
"Vale Foundation?"
"She didn't say."
"Why didn't you tell police?"
"Because after she died, I thought it was unrelated."
Nathan stood.
"Rachel."
"I know."
"You knew Anna was investigating something."
"I knew she was frightened. That's different."
"What exactly did she say?"
Rachel's eyes filled.
"She said if anything happened to her, I should make sure Lily never saw something called Project June."
Nathan stared.
"Project June?"
Rachel nodded.
"I thought it was a client file."
Nathan heard Anna's warning again.
There are things about our daughter you do not know.
His phone vibrated.
Detective Bennett.
He answered.
"We opened part of the flash drive," she said.
Nathan closed his eyes.
"What did you find?"
"A list of payments."
"To whom?"
"Hospitals. Private clinics. Research companies."
Nathan's grip tightened.
"And one name appears repeatedly."
He waited.
May you like
Bennett's next words changed everything.
"Lily Cole."
