Chapter 14 - THE GRAVE
Police surrounded Mercy Hill Cemetery before sunset.
Noah's father, Andrew Lane, was buried near the western fence.
His headstone looked untouched.
The soil beside it did not.
Someone had recently dug there.
Ruiz ordered a search.
Ten feet behind the grave, officers found a waterproof case beneath a stone bench.
Empty.
Victor had arrived first.
Rebecca cried when she heard.
"The music box was inside."
Daniel looked around the cemetery.
"How did Victor know?"
Emily answered quietly.
"Claire."
Daniel turned.
"Claire knew the location?"
"No."
"But she knew Rebecca was at Saint Catherine's."
"If Victor had someone listening to police communications, he could have followed everything."
Ruiz looked angry.
"Then we have a leak."
Daniel thought of how Victor escaped the house.
How he knew where police were searching.
How he remained ahead of them.
Someone inside law enforcement was helping him.
Ruiz immediately limited information to five people.
Within an hour, another problem emerged.
The police evidence server containing a copy of the financial archive had been accessed.
Someone tried to delete it.
The attempt failed.
But the login belonged to Detective Ruiz.
Ruiz stared at the screen.
"I didn't do this."
Daniel believed him.
But Internal Affairs removed Ruiz from the case pending investigation.
Victor had just neutralized the detective who understood everything.
Sarah was furious.
"That's exactly what he wants."
Emily nodded.
"He frames people before attacking them."
Daniel looked at Marcus.
"Then who's next?"
Marcus glanced toward Daniel.
"You."
The answer came sooner than expected.
Daniel's phone buzzed.
News alerts filled the screen.
VANCE BIOMEDICAL CEO UNDER INVESTIGATION FOR FRAUD.
Another headline appeared.
SOURCES CLAIM DANIEL VANCE MANIPULATED COMPANY RECORDS.
A third.
BOARD CALLS EMERGENCY MEETING.
Daniel stared at the articles.
Marcus cursed.
"They're moving against you."
Within minutes, Daniel received notice.
The board meeting had been moved forward.
Tomorrow morning.
If Daniel failed to appear, a temporary executive could be appointed.
Marcus read the document.
"They want you removed before the acquisition vote."
Sarah looked at Daniel.
"Then go."
"They'll accuse him publicly."
"Then he answers publicly."
Daniel looked toward Sophie.
His daughter was building a puzzle with Rebecca.
Noah remained missing.
Victor had the music box.
Claire was hospitalized under guard.
Everything was collapsing at once.
Then Daniel's phone rang.
Unknown number.
He answered.
Victor Crane's voice was calm.
"Good evening, Daniel."
Daniel felt the room change.
"Where is Noah?"
"Safe."
"I want to hear him."
Victor laughed softly.
"You continue behaving as though you're negotiating."
"What do you want?"
"The memory card."
"You already know police copied it."
"I don't want that one."
Daniel looked at Rebecca.
Victor continued.
"I want what Rebecca hid from everyone."
Daniel realized Victor did not know the insurance file had been in the music box.
Victor had found the case empty.
Someone else had taken it.
"Victor."
Daniel smiled for the first time.
"You don't have it."
Silence.
Then Victor's voice lost its calm.
"Be careful."
Daniel ended the call.
Rebecca stared at him.
"If Victor didn't take the music box, who did?"
A small voice answered from behind them.
Sophie.
"Noah did."
Everyone turned.
May you like
Sophie looked confused.
"He told me he moved it."
