Chapter 4 - THE MAN WHO NEVER LEFT
Nathan’s father, Charles Cole, had been dead for eleven months.
That fact should have made the tracker impossible.
It didn’t.
By midnight, Nathan’s head of security, Owen Price, was standing in the study with the device sealed in an evidence bag.
“This model is registered to our executive protection division,” Owen said.
“Who checked it out?”
Owen hesitated.
“Nathan.”
“Say it.”
“Your father’s former security chief. Martin Vale.”
Nathan swore.
Vale had retired after Charles’s funeral.
“Find him.”
Owen shook his head. “We already tried. His house is empty. His accounts were closed six months ago.”
Grace stood near the fireplace with Lily in her arms.
Nathan noticed she kept glancing at every window.
“You’re safe here,” he said.
She gave him a tired look. “I used to believe rich houses were safe.”
At 1:12 a.m., Nathan’s attorney, Rebecca Sloan, arrived carrying a laptop and a stack of corporate records.
She studied the custody petition.
“This was professionally prepared,” she said. “But the notary block is false, and the electronic signature certificate was generated from your corporate credential.”
Nathan looked at her. “Who has access?”
“Three people. You. Me. And the office of the executive chairman.”
“That office was dissolved when my father died.”
Rebecca’s expression sharpened. “On paper.”
She opened a corporate directory.
One administrative account was still active.
Username: CCOLE_EXEC.
Last login: yesterday, 8:43 p.m.
Grace whispered, “Your father’s dead.”
“I know.”
Rebecca clicked the access log.
The login had originated from a private residence.
Nathan recognized the address instantly.
Victoria’s mother’s house.
He leaned back slowly.
Then Rebecca’s phone buzzed.
She read the message and went pale.
“What?” Nathan asked.
She turned the screen toward him.
The family court had just scheduled an emergency custody hearing.
May you like
For 8:00 a.m.
And someone had attached a police affidavit claiming Grace had kidnapped Lily from Nathan four years ago.
