Chapter 8 - The Witness Who Survived
Owen Pike was brought into the same hospital under police protection.
The bullet had passed through his shoulder.
He had lost blood.
He had also lost his confidence.
Detective Mills questioned him after surgery.
Marcus and Khloe were not permitted in the room.
Samuel was.
Two hours later, he returned to Khloe’s suite.
“Owen confirmed the surveillance.”
Khloe sat upright.
“And the attack?”
“He says Isabella never told him directly that she intended to hurt you.”
Marcus folded his arms.
“But?”
“She asked how many cameras were inside the private suites.”
Khloe looked toward Samuel.
“When?”
“Four days ago.”
Marcus’s jaw tightened.
Samuel continued.
“She also asked about emergency stairwells, gala security staffing, and whether physicians attended the event.”
“That’s planning.”
Marcus said.
“It looks like planning.”
“Why was Pike shot?”
Samuel’s expression became darker.
“He tried to leave.”
“Leave what?”
“The operation.”
Khloe listened carefully.
Samuel explained.
Owen had been hired to gather compromising information.
At first, he believed it was corporate surveillance.
Then Isabella began requesting Khloe’s movements.
Medical appointments.
Security gaps.
Family routines.
Owen became uncomfortable.
After seeing Isabella enter the hospital suite during the gala, he realized something worse was about to happen.
He sent the encrypted evidence file as insurance.
Then he went to meet Caleb Dunn.
“That was a mistake.”
Samuel said.
“Caleb tried to take his laptop.”
“Owen resisted.”
Marcus guessed.
Samuel nodded.
“He was shot during the struggle.”
“Where is Caleb?”
“Missing.”
Marcus looked toward David.
“Find him.”
David nodded.
Khloe looked at Samuel.
“What does Owen say Isabella intended?”
“He says the plan was to create an incident that would make you leave Marcus.”
Khloe frowned.
“By attacking me?”
“Not originally.”
Samuel lowered his voice.
“Originally, Isabella planned to make it look like Marcus was having an affair.”
Marcus closed his eyes briefly.
“The hotel photos.”
Samuel nodded.
“They staged several meetings.”
Marcus looked at Khloe immediately.
“I never met her privately.”
“I know.”
“The photos were manipulated.”
“I said I know.”
Marcus exhaled.
Samuel continued.
“When that failed, they escalated.”
Khloe’s hand moved toward her stomach.
“What did they expect last night to accomplish?”
“That is still unclear.”
A nurse entered suddenly.
“Dr. Vale.”
Samuel turned.
“Mrs. Thorne’s monitor is showing contractions.”
Marcus was beside the bed immediately.
Khloe felt the first one seconds later.
Pressure tightened across her abdomen.
Then came pain.
Dr. Reed entered.
“Khloe, I need you to stay as relaxed as you can.”
“Is the baby coming?”
“Not necessarily.”
Another contraction arrived.
The fetal monitor changed.
Marcus stared at the screen.
“What’s happening?”
Dr. Reed did not answer immediately.
Khloe grabbed Marcus’s hand.
“Tell me.”
Dr. Reed looked at her.
“The baby’s heart rate is dropping during contractions.”
Khloe’s face went white.
“What do we do?”
“We move now.”
Nurses unlocked the bed.
Marcus walked beside them.
“Operating room?”
“Possibly.”
The corridor blurred around Khloe.
She heard Marcus speaking.
She heard nurses answering.
She heard Samuel calling neonatal specialists.
But beneath all of it was one thought.
May you like
Isabella had wanted to destroy her marriage.
Instead, she might have forced Khloe to deliver her child ten weeks too early.
