Chapter 4 - THE SUV
The SUV was parked three blocks from Grace’s apartment.
She had never seen it.
Detective Mara Ellis arrived before midnight.
She was younger than Nathan expected and unimpressed by his last name.
“Everyone stays separated,” she said.
Victoria went home with her attorney.
Grace went to the hospital.
Nathan stayed with Lily until a child-services worker arrived.
Then Ellis took him to the SUV.
Inside were two suitcases.
Women’s clothes in Grace’s size.
Children’s clothes in Lily’s size.
And a passport application using Lily’s photograph.
“This was planted.”
“Maybe.”
“It was.”
“Mr. Cole, wealthy people say that when evidence gets inconvenient.”
“My fiancée just hit the mother of my child.”
“Allegedly.”
“You saw the injury.”
“I did.”
Nathan controlled his temper.
“What else?”
A one-way ferry reservation to Canada.
Departure: tomorrow morning.
“Too perfect.”
Ellis glanced at him.
“That bothers me too.”
She pulled a small envelope from the center console.
Inside was a photograph of Nathan and Grace taken five years earlier.
Nathan remembered the day.
Grace had been twenty-four, laughing outside a coffee shop.
He had been stupidly happy.
On the back, someone had written:
SHE ALWAYS COMES BACK FOR MONEY.
Nathan recognized the handwriting.
“You know who wrote that?”
“My father.”
“Dead?”
“Three years.”
She bagged the photo.
Nathan asked, “Who had access to his files after he died?”
“My attorney. Family office. Victoria’s father during the merger.”
Ellis wrote down the names.
“What?”
“Your fiancée’s attorney just filed a sworn statement.”
“About what?”
“Grace.”
“She claims Grace assaulted Victoria six months ago and threatened to take Lily overseas.”
“That never happened.”
“The affidavit says there was a witness.”
“Who?”
“Your late father’s former driver.”
“Samuel Price?”
“Yes.”
“That man disappeared after my father died.”
“He didn’t disappear.”
“Then where is he?”
“He’s in county lockup.”
“For what?”
May you like
“Identity fraud.”
“And he says your father paid him to keep Grace away from you.”
