Chapter 11 - The Dead Man's Company
Grant and Nathan's father had been dead for five years.
Charles Callahan was remembered as a brilliant founder, difficult parent, and ruthless businessman.
Grant had never imagined him as part of Claire's nightmare.
Nathan had.
"Dad used off-book accounts," Nathan admitted.
Grant stared.
"You knew?"
"I knew he hid money during a patent war. I didn't know Simon kept using the structure after he died."
Ruiz laid old records across the dining table.
Shell companies.
Consulting fees.
Private clinics.
One clinic appeared repeatedly.
Vale Wellness Partners.
Grant looked at the name.
"Dr. Vale."
Ruiz nodded.
"Your father funded his clinic. Simon handled the contracts. Margaret handled payments."
Emma listened from the doorway.
"So Renata found an old machine already running."
Ruiz looked at her.
"Exactly."
Renata had not built the fraud.
She had learned how to use it.
Claire discovered the network while auditing foundation spending.
Simon feared exposure.
Margaret feared prison.
Renata wanted Grant, the company, and Lily's trust.
Their interests aligned.
Then Dr. Vale called Ruiz.
He sounded terrified.
"Someone broke into my office."
"Are you hurt?"
"No, but the files are gone."
"Which files?"
"Claire's original toxicology. Lily's first test. And one more."
Grant leaned toward the phone.
"Whose?"
Vale hesitated.
"Yours."
Grant went still.
"I never had a toxicology test."
"You did six months ago. After you collapsed at the foundation dinner."
Grant remembered.
He had been told it was dehydration.
Vale whispered, "The same sedative was in your blood."
Emma covered her mouth.
Grant looked at Ruiz.
The plan on Simon's computer had said:
Grant experiences health crisis.
It had already begun.
Ruiz ordered immediate protection around Grant and Lily.
Then Grant's phone buzzed.
A text from Renata.
One photograph.
Simon Hale sitting in a car.
Blood on his shirt.
Under it, Renata had written:
HE'S GOING TO TALK.
May you like
Then another message arrived.
UNLESS SOMEONE FINDS HIM FIRST.
