Chapter 9 - The Price of a Wife
Daniel watched the video twice.
Claire's face was thinner.
Her hair shorter.
But alive.
No doubt remained.
Julian called five minutes later.
"You finally understand the situation."
Daniel put him on speaker.
"I understand you're going to prison."
Julian laughed.
"You still think this is about Vanessa?"
"She forged Claire's guardianship papers."
"Vanessa is useful. That's all."
"What do you want?"
"Your controlling shares in Carter Medical."
Daniel stared at Morris.
"Why?"
"Because your father built a company and then got sentimental. He created voting protections around Claire and the children. I spent years trying to unwind them."
Daniel remembered his father's warning.
If Voss appears, assume someone is manufacturing incapacity.
"You tried this on my father."
Silence.
Then Julian said, "Your father was difficult."
"Did you cause his stroke?"
The line went quiet.
"Bring a signed transfer of your shares to the old Carter rail depot at noon. Come alone. You get Claire."
"And my death certificate?"
Julian chuckled.
"Insurance."
The call ended.
Morris shook her head.
"You're not going alone."
"Obviously."
Daniel's corporate attorney prepared fake transfer papers fitted with a tracking strip.
At the safe house, Noah confronted him.
"You're going to get Mom?"
"I'm going to bring her home."
Noah's lip trembled.
"Promise?"
Daniel knelt.
"I promise I won't stop."
Lily handed him Claire's bracelet.
"Take this."
"Why?"
"So Mom knows you found her."
At noon, Daniel entered the abandoned rail depot.
Julian waited near a freight platform.
Vanessa stood beside him.
Claire was nowhere in sight.
"Papers," Julian said.
"Wife first."
Vanessa looked nervous.
"Daniel, just sign."
"Where is Claire?"
A train horn sounded in the distance.
Then Daniel heard knocking.
From inside a sealed freight car.
Three knocks.
Pause.
Three knocks.
Claire's old signal for him when the kids were asleep.
Daniel moved.
May you like
Julian raised a gun.
"One more step and you become tomorrow's death certificate."
