Chapter 9 - The Night Intruder
Simon ran.
Grant chased him through the upstairs hall while Nathan called police.
Simon reached the service stairs, knocked over a chair, and disappeared through the kitchen before security could seal the doors.
His car was gone within seconds.
Ruiz arrived and swore under her breath.
"He knew the house layout."
Emma held Lily tightly.
Grant looked at her.
"Are you okay?"
"I'm fine."
"That wasn't what I asked."
Emma's hands were shaking.
"No. I'm not okay."
Grant nodded.
"Neither am I."
The break-in changed the case.
Simon was now wanted for burglary, intimidation, and evidence tampering.
His office was searched before sunrise.
Investigators found a hidden drive with trust drafts, foundation accounts, and copies of Claire's medical records.
They also found photographs of Lily taken through school fences.
Grant looked at them and nearly lost control.
"He was watching her."
Ruiz said, "For a long time."
One folder on Simon's computer was labeled TRANSITION.
Inside was a legal plan.
Step one: Claire declared mentally unfit.
Step two: Claire dies or is removed from trust control.
Step three: Grant marries Renata.
Step four: Grant experiences "health crisis."
Step five: Renata petitions for temporary guardianship of Lily.
Emma read the screen twice.
"They planned for Grant too."
Ruiz nodded.
Grant went silent.
Then the lab called.
The unlabeled tea tin contained the same sedative found in Lily and Claire.
Fingerprints were recovered.
Renata's.
And another set.
Margaret Dunn's.
Grant stared at Ruiz.
"Margaret was in my kitchen?"
"More than once, apparently."
Nathan walked in holding his phone.
"You need to see this."
A news site had published a breaking story.
CALLAHAN HEIRESS ABUSE CLAIMS QUESTIONED.
The article described Emma as a "disgruntled domestic employee" and suggested Lily's statement was coached.
Grant's face hardened.
"Who leaked that?"
Ruiz scrolled to the author credit.
May you like
Then smiled without humor.
"Someone who received a wire transfer from Hale Advisory yesterday."
