Chapter 6 - NATHAN’S OBSESSION
Nathan Vale had worked for the Whitmore family for eleven years before his supposed death.
Alexander had trusted him.
Elena had trusted him too.
That was what made the truth difficult to understand.
Vanessa explained that Nathan’s involvement had begun before Julian’s conspiracy.
Nathan had been obsessed with Elena for years.
He never acted openly.
He simply stayed close.
He managed her travel.
Her security schedules.
Her charity events.
When Alexander was away on business, Nathan was often nearby.
Alexander sat motionless as Vanessa spoke.
“You knew?”
He asked.
“Not at first.”
“When?”
“After Elena disappeared.”
Alexander’s eyes sharpened.
“You mean after you helped take her.”
Vanessa looked down.
“Yes.”
She explained the original plan.
Julian wanted Elena removed temporarily.
The goal was to pressure Alexander during a corporate vote.
Nathan was supposed to arrange a fake accident, hide Elena for several weeks, and force her to sign documents relinquishing certain claims.
But Nathan changed the plan.
He made everyone believe Elena had died.
Including Julian.
“For how long?”
Keller asked.
“Almost four months.”
Vanessa said.
“Julian thought Elena really died in the crash.”
Alexander stared.
“So Nathan kept her for himself.”
Vanessa nodded.
Nathan had taken Elena to the first hidden property.
He told her Alexander had died too.
When she refused to believe him, he changed the story.
Then he claimed Alexander knew Elena was alive but chose not to rescue her.
After Julian discovered the truth, he did not free Elena.
He recognized opportunity.
A woman legally dead could be controlled.
A fake widowhood allowed Alexander to remarry.
The preserved embryos created the possibility of a biological heir.
The conspiracy grew from Nathan’s obsession into Julian’s plan for the Whitmore empire.
Keller asked.
“Why Vanessa?”
Vanessa laughed bitterly.
“Because I was stupid.”
Cynthia’s family had lost most of their money.
Vanessa met Julian through a private investment club.
Julian promised her wealth and marriage into one of America’s richest families.
All she had to do was become the grieving widower’s perfect companion.
Alexander stared at her.
“Our meeting at the foundation gala.”
“Arranged.”
“The charity board invitation.”
“Arranged.”
“The accident when your car broke down outside my office.”
Vanessa closed her eyes.
“Arranged.”
Alexander leaned back.
His entire second marriage had been manufactured.
Keller continued.
“And Cynthia?”
“Cynthia knew from the beginning.”
“Why make her guardian?”
“Julian trusted her more than me.”
That hurt Vanessa to admit.
Alexander noticed.
“You were disposable too.”
Vanessa looked at him.
“Yes.”
The investigation turned toward Nathan.
Police recovered old emails.
Photographs.
Security logs.
A pattern appeared.
Nathan had manipulated travel schedules to spend time near Elena.
He had intercepted letters.
Canceled appointments.
Moved staff.
At least twice, he had created false emergencies that caused Alexander to leave events early.
Nathan had been quietly isolating Elena before she ever disappeared.
Then police found something worse in Nathan’s former apartment.
A hidden storage unit.
Inside were hundreds of photographs of Elena.
Most had been taken without her knowledge.
At restaurants.
In gardens.
Leaving medical appointments.
Sleeping on a private flight.
Alexander could not look at them for long.
On one shelf sat a framed photograph of Alexander and Elena’s wedding.
Alexander’s face had been cut out.
Detective Keller closed the storage unit.
“We’re dealing with more than financial conspiracy.”
Alexander nodded.
“He wants her.”
“Yes.”
“And Julian wants the baby.”
Keller looked at him.
“That creates conflict between them.”
Alexander understood.
“We use it.”
Keller agreed.
If Nathan believed Julian intended to harm Elena after the birth, Nathan might turn against him.
The question was how to reach him.
They used the media.
By evening, news outlets reported that Julian Cross was suspected of planning to eliminate Elena Whitmore after she delivered her child.
No mention was made of Nathan’s obsession.
The bait worked.
At 11:18 p.m., Alexander received a call.
Nathan.
“You’re lying.”
Alexander put the phone on speaker.
Keller traced silently.
“About what?”
Alexander asked.
“Julian isn’t going to hurt her.”
“How sure are you?”
Nathan breathed heavily.
“I protect Elena.”
Alexander’s expression hardened.
“You kidnapped her.”
“I saved her.”
“From whom?”
“From you.”
Alexander almost shouted, but Keller raised a hand.
Keep him talking.
Nathan continued.
“You were never there.”
“You left her alone in that house while you chased contracts.”
“I was the one who knew what she needed.”
Alexander closed his eyes.
“When she was sick, I knew.”
“When she was unhappy, I knew.”
“When she cried after losing the first pregnancy, where were you?”
Alexander flinched.
That was private information.
Nathan had known everything.
Alexander spoke carefully.
“Where is she now?”
“Safe.”
“With you?”
A pause.
“No.”
That mattered.
Nathan and Elena had been separated.
“Julian took her from you.”
Silence.
Alexander pressed.
“He doesn’t trust you anymore.”
Nathan’s breathing changed.
“He needs me.”
“No.”
“He needed you.”
“Now Elena is about to deliver.”
“After that, Julian has no reason to keep either of you alive.”
Nathan said nothing.
Keller pointed toward a map.
The trace was narrowing.
Alexander continued.
“You know him.”
“You know I’m right.”
Nathan finally whispered.
“He promised she would come with me.”
Alexander looked toward Keller.
She nodded.
Keep going.
“He lied.”
Alexander said.
“He is going to take my child.”
“And Elena?”
Nathan asked.
Alexander lowered his voice.
“You already know.”
There was a long silence.
Then Nathan gave them something.
Not an address.
A warning.
“Don’t let Julian reach Hawthorne.”
The call ended.
Keller immediately searched databases.
Hawthorne Street.
Hawthorne County.
Hawthorne Medical.
Daniel looked up.
“Hawthorne Estate.”
Alexander stared at him.
“What?”
“Your grandfather owned a property called Hawthorne.”
“Where?”
“It was sold years ago.”
Daniel began typing.
Then he went pale.
“It wasn’t sold.”
“What do you mean?”
“It was transferred.”
“To whom?”
Daniel turned the screen.
The owner was a trust controlled by Julian Cross.
Alexander looked toward Keller.
“Find it.”
Keller already had.
A two-hundred-acre property in Wisconsin.
Remote.
Private.
May you like
And according to satellite images, equipped with a small medical building.
They finally knew where Julian intended Elena’s story to end.
