Chapter 9 - The Empty Farmhouse
Richard nearly lost control.
Every instinct told him to drive immediately wherever Martin demanded.
Detective Grant stopped him.
“If you go alone, you give him exactly what he wants.”
“He has my daughter.”
“And that is why we do this correctly.”
Grace was found two miles from the farmhouse.
She had been locked inside a storage shed.
She was frightened but physically unharmed.
Martin had used two men.
They entered through the rear property line and disabled the alarm system.
That meant they knew exactly what security existed.
Someone inside Richard’s organization had helped them.
Again.
Grace remembered one detail.
Before taking Maya, Martin said, “Richard will finally understand what his father started.”
Richard questioned Harrison.
“What did my father start?”
Harrison became quiet.
“Edmund discovered Martin was stealing from both of us.”
“And?”
“He tried to blackmail Martin.”
Richard stared.
“My father wasn’t trying to expose him.”
“No.”
“He wanted a percentage.”
Richard felt disgust.
Edmund’s death suddenly made sense.
He had become greedy.
Caroline later discovered his files.
She tried to expose everyone.
Martin eliminated the problem.
Now Maya was leverage.
Police monitored Richard’s phone.
At 4:13 p.m., Martin called.
“You have the ledger?”
“Yes.”
“Good.”
“Let me speak to Maya.”
Martin was silent.
“Let me hear my daughter.”
A few seconds later Maya’s voice came through.
“Daddy?”
Richard closed his eyes.
“I’m here.”
“I’m okay.”
“Are you hurt?”
“No.”
Martin took the phone back.
“Downtown parking structure.”
“Level seven.”
“One hour.”
“You come alone.”
Richard’s voice became low.
“If you hurt her—”
Martin laughed.
“You sound exactly like Edmund.”
Richard arrived carrying a duplicate ledger.
Police remained several blocks away.
Martin had warned that he was watching every entrance.
Level seven was almost empty.
Richard stepped from his car.
A black SUV waited across the garage.
Martin emerged.
No Maya.
“Where is she?”
“Safe.”
“The ledger.”
“My daughter first.”
Martin smiled.
“This is why you never belonged in your father’s world.”
Richard moved closer.
“My father died because he thought men like you respected rules.”
Martin’s smile disappeared.
“You know nothing about your father.”
“I know enough.”
“No.”
Martin stepped closer.
“Edmund begged me to keep his biggest secret.”
Richard stared at him.
“What secret?”
Martin looked toward Richard’s car.
“He wasn’t protecting money.”
“He was protecting you.”
Richard tightened his grip on the ledger.
“From what?”
“From the truth about Caroline.”
Richard’s heartbeat changed.
“What about her?”
Martin smiled again.
“She didn’t meet Victoria after marrying you.”
“She knew Victoria before she ever met you.”
Richard remembered the photographs.
“What are you saying?”
“I’m saying your marriage began with a lie.”
Richard heard tires below.
Police were moving too soon.
Martin heard them too.
His expression changed.
“You brought them.”
Richard lunged.
Martin ran.
Gunshots echoed somewhere below.
Richard chased him down a concrete stairwell.
Martin escaped through a maintenance exit.
But he left behind his SUV.
Inside police found a laptop.
And a child’s bracelet.
Maya’s bracelet.
Richard held it in his palm.
Then Alan called from the digital forensics van.
“We opened part of Martin’s computer.”
“Anything about Maya?”
“Not yet.”
“What did you find?”
“A video.”
“Of what?”
Alan hesitated.
“Your wedding.”
Richard frowned.
Martin had recorded Richard and Caroline’s wedding from a distance.
Attached was a note.
CAROLINE PHASE ONE COMPLETE.
Richard stared at the screen.
His marriage had not simply been observed.
May you like
According to Martin, it had been planned.
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