Chapter 14 - The False Emergency
Victor agreed to Serena's meeting, but not her terms.
Police wired the old Blackwood theater with cameras and microphones. Daniel prepared fake copies of Olivia's evidence. Lily refused to leave the estate until officers promised to station two people inside Ethan's nursery.
"She already got past security twice," Lily said. "I want eyes on him. Human eyes."
Victor nodded. "Done."
At 5:42 p.m., his phone rang.
The hospital.
"Mr. Blackwood? Your son is being transported to Mercy Children's. Possible seizure."
Victor went white.
Lily, standing three feet away with Ethan in her arms, stared at him.
"What?"
The caller continued, "We need consent for emergency treatment."
Victor looked at his perfectly awake son.
"My son is with me."
Silence.
Then the line disconnected.
Lily whispered, "False emergency."
Daniel swore under his breath.
A detective traced the call to a prepaid phone near Mercy Children's.
Minutes later another call came in, this time to Lily.
A woman sobbed, claiming Lily's mother had collapsed at home.
Lily didn't move.
"Serena is trying to separate us."
Victor looked toward the nursery cameras now displayed live on three screens.
"Then nobody goes anywhere."
At six, Victor went to the theater with the police team in position.
Serena did not appear.
At 6:15, a projector turned on by itself.
A video filled the screen.
Olivia.
Alive, seated in her office months before she died.
Victor's knees nearly gave out.
Olivia looked into the camera.
"Victor, if you're watching this, Serena found out I copied the accounts. I don't know who I can trust. Grant is compromised. Dr. Pike changed Ethan's records. And there is someone else inside the company helping them."
The video froze.
A message appeared over Olivia's face.
ASK DANIEL WHY HE SIGNED THE TRANSFERS.
Victor turned toward the back of the theater.
Daniel was standing there.
His face had gone gray.
"Victor-"
"Did you sign them?"
Daniel said nothing.
"Answer me."
"Yes."
Victor felt the room tilt.
Daniel raised both hands. "I didn't know where the money was going. Serena brought me authorization forms with your electronic signature attached."
"And you never checked?"
"I checked too late."
The projector changed again.
A live video appeared.
Ethan's nursery.
The two officers were still outside the door.
Inside, Lily held Ethan.
May you like
Then the nursery window behind her slowly opened.
A gloved hand reached through.
