Chapter 13 - This Time They Knew
Grant did not drive anywhere after that.
Neither did Tyler.
Malik moved the family to a secured guest wing while police processed the garage and the house. Every entrance received a guard. Every device was replaced or scanned.
For the first time, Tyler seemed less angry than tired.
He sat at the kitchen counter while Leah made grilled cheese because none of them had eaten since morning.
"I'm sorry," he said suddenly.
Leah kept her eyes on the pan. "For which part?"
He winced.
"Fair."
She turned off the burner.
"Tyler, I don't want an apology because you're scared Victor used you. I want you to understand that you scared me too."
He nodded.
"I do."
"Do you?"
"I raised a belt at you. I didn't hit you. But I wanted you to think I might."
Leah's face tightened.
"That's the part I can't forget."
"I know."
He looked down.
"I thought if I scared you enough, you'd admit you killed Mom."
Leah sat across from him.
"And now?"
"Now I think someone spent a year teaching me where to point my anger."
Grant stood in the doorway and heard every word.
He wanted to rush in and fix it. Instead he stayed back.
Some repairs were not his to control.
Later, Renee found him in the study.
"The cut on your brake line is fresh," she said. "Less than twenty-four hours."
"Victor?"
"Maybe Ryan. Maybe someone else."
"Someone else?"
She opened Caroline's files on the tablet.
"Your wife suspected three board members were helping Victor hide transactions. One resigned after her death. One moved overseas. One is still at Mercer Dynamics."
Grant knew before she said the name.
"Elliot Crane."
Chief Financial Officer. Grant's closest professional friend for eleven years.
Renee nodded.
"He approved the garage maintenance vendor that serviced Caroline's SUV."
Grant sat down hard.
His phone rang.
Elliot.
Grant put it on speaker.
"Hey," Elliot said. "I heard there was trouble with your car. You okay?"
Grant looked at Renee.
"I'm fine."
"Good. Listen, the board is nervous. Victor has been contacting directors. We need you here tonight. Emergency meeting."
"Tonight?"
"Nine o'clock. No remote access. Sensitive material."
Grant's eyes narrowed.
"Who called the meeting?"
Elliot hesitated.
Then said, "I did."
After the call ended, Renee asked, "Are you going?"
Grant looked toward the hallway where Tyler and Leah were talking quietly for the first time in months.
"Yes."
"That could be exactly what they want."
"I know."
May you like
Grant picked up the black radio.
"So this time, we go knowing it's a trap."
