Chapter 14 - The Man at Cole Meridian
Nathan called an emergency meeting from the theater parking lot.
His CFO, Grant Mercer, did not answer.
His office assistant said Grant had left headquarters that morning with no explanation.
Nathan’s security team checked hangar logs.
Grant’s key card had been used three times in the last month.
Once at midnight.
Once on a Sunday.
And once twenty-three minutes ago.
A company jet had been fueled but had not yet departed.
Police moved toward the private airfield.
Nathan wanted to go.
Ava grabbed his hand.
“Don’t leave again.”
Three words stopped him more effectively than any detective could.
He looked down at his daughter.
She was not asking about the airport.
She was asking about years.
Nathan knelt.
“I’m staying until I know you’re safe.”
Ava studied his face like she was checking for fine print.
“Promise?”
“Yes.”
“Work promise or real promise?”
Nathan’s heart broke quietly.
“Real promise.”
He stayed.
Mills went to the airfield.
Emma sat with the girls while paramedics checked them.
Rachel paced nearby.
Two hours later, Mills called.
They had found the jet.
Empty.
They had found Grant Mercer too.
He was alive, locked inside a maintenance office.
His key card had been stolen.
“Grant says Victoria contacted him last month claiming you wanted an off-the-books audit,” Mills explained. “She used your email.”
Nathan looked at the girls.
Every door had been opened with his name.
Every lie wore his signature.
“What about Daniel?”
“Gone.”
“Victoria?”
“Gone.”
Mills paused.
“But we found something in the jet.”
“What?”
“A second passport for Victoria Hale.”
Nathan frowned.
“Different name?”
“Yes.”
“What name?”
Mills read it.
“Victoria Kerr.”
Emma inhaled sharply.
Nathan turned to her.
“She wasn’t his half-sister,” Emma said.
“No,” Rachel whispered. “She was his wife.”
The room went silent.
Nathan stared at nothing.
The woman he had planned to marry was already married to the man who had tried to steal from his company, manipulate his children, and take their trust.
Then Emma’s phone rang.
Unknown number.
She answered.
A man said, “Hello, Emma.”
Her face drained white.
Daniel.
May you like
His voice remained calm.
“Your mother lied to you about why I left.”
