Chapter 7 - The Enemy Sitting at My Own Table
The first bullet came through the door.
Marcus pulled me down.
My men returned fire.
We escaped through the bathroom window.
For a man I had suspected of murdering my wife, Marcus saved my life twice in thirty seconds.
That earned him five minutes.
We drove.
He talked.
Victor Sloane had never died.
My father had helped fake his death after discovering Victor was laundering money.
Years later Victor returned secretly and began buying influence inside my organization.
Hannah discovered him.
Marcus discovered Hannah investigating.
He tried to warn her.
That was the argument Noah remembered.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because Victor had someone closer to you."
"Who?"
"I never found out."
"You expect me to believe that?"
"No."
Marcus looked exhausted.
"But I expect you to remember Hannah's last words."
Someone Preston trusted.
Not necessarily Marcus.
We returned to the mansion through a service tunnel.
Elena was gone.
Again.
This time she had left willingly.
Security footage showed her walking out with my attorney, Samuel Price.
Samuel had handled my family affairs for twenty years.
Including Noah's trust.
My phone rang.
Elena.
"Preston."
Her voice was strained.
"Where are you?"
"Don't come after me."
"Wrong answer."
"Samuel says he has proof about Hannah."
"Samuel is involved."
Silence.
Then she whispered:
"I know."
The call disconnected.
Marcus looked at me.
"Track it."
Already done.
The signal came from my father's old lake house.
We drove there.
The front door stood open.
Inside, Samuel sat alone.
"Where's Elena?"
He smiled.
"Victor has her."
I put my gun against his forehead.
"Then tell me where."
"I will."
"Why?"
"Because Victor intends to kill me too."
Samuel gave us an address.
Before leaving, I asked one question.
"Who gave Victor access to Noah's trust?"
Samuel looked at me.
"You did."
Impossible.
Then he placed a document on the table.
My signature.
My authorization.
Dated two weeks after Hannah died.
I remembered signing hundreds of papers during that period.
I had barely been functioning.
Samuel had placed it among them.
"You used me."
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Victor had my daughter."
I lowered the gun.
There was always another hostage.
Another fear.
Another weakness.
Samuel began crying.
"He still has her."
I looked at Marcus.
Then back at Samuel.
"We get both women."
Outside, my phone received a video.
Elena was tied to a chair.
Victor stepped into frame.
Older.
Alive.
Smiling.
May you like
Then he leaned toward the camera.
"Bring me Noah."
