Chapter 13 - The Paper Nathan Signed
The drive to the lake house took fifty-two minutes.
Nathan remembered every one.
Police vehicles stayed far enough back not to alert Caleb. Elena rode with Detective Collins because she knew the old service road behind the property.
David remained on the phone, working to freeze every corporate authority Caleb might use.
Halfway there, he called back.
"Nathan, I found the refinancing packet you signed six months ago."
"And?"
"There was more than a medical power of attorney buried in it."
Nathan gripped the steering wheel.
"Tell me."
"A temporary executive delegation. If two physicians certify you as unable to perform your duties, Caleb gets operational control for ninety days."
"I signed that?"
"Your real signature is on the final page."
Nathan felt physically ill.
Claire had sat on the edge of his desk that night, laughing about how many tabs legal had added.
Sign the yellow ones, she'd said. I'll owe you dinner.
He had kissed her forehead and signed.
Trust had made him careless.
"Can they use it?"
"Not if we prove fraud. But Caleb may try before the board understands what's happening."
Another text appeared from the unknown number.
42 MINUTES.
Nathan forwarded it to police.
At the lake road, they killed their headlights.
Elena showed Detective Collins a narrow gravel lane used by maintenance crews.
"It comes out behind the boathouse."
Nathan looked at her. "How do you know?"
"Lucy lost a kite back there last summer."
Even now, the ordinary memory hurt.
They approached on foot.
Through the kitchen window, Nathan saw Claire standing by the island.
She looked terrified.
Caleb paced in front of her with a phone in one hand.
Lucy sat on the couch watching cartoons, apparently unharmed.
Nathan's knees almost gave out from relief.
Detective Collins whispered, "Stay here."
Inside, Caleb grabbed Claire's arm.
She jerked away.
Then Nathan heard her shout through the glass.
"I said I won't let you scare her!"
Caleb hissed, "You lost the drive. You lost the trust. This is the only leverage we have left."
Claire looked toward Lucy.
"She's my daughter."
"Then start acting like you want to keep her."
Nathan stared.
The balance between them was not what he expected.
Claire had helped Caleb.
But she was afraid of him too.
Police moved toward the doors.
A floorboard creaked outside.
Caleb turned.
"Who's there?"
Everything exploded at once.
Police shouted.
Claire screamed.
Lucy started crying.
Caleb ran for the back door.
Nathan ignored every instruction and went straight for his daughter.
He lifted Lucy into his arms.
"I've got you. I've got you."
Claire stood three feet away, crying.
"Nathan—"
He looked at her.
"Did you bring her here?"
Claire opened her mouth.
Lucy answered first.
"No, Daddy."
Nathan looked down.
May you like
Lucy wiped her face.
"Uncle Caleb made Mommy come too."
