Chapter 15 - THE WINE GLASS
Nathan remembered the police photograph from his father's death.
Richard slumped beside the desk.
An overturned glass of red wine.
Everyone had assumed he was drinking.
But Richard hated red wine.
Emma was telling them the photograph contained evidence.
Ortiz reopened the old case file.
The wine glass had one clear fingerprint besides Richard's.
Marcus Hale.
At the time, investigators dismissed it because Marcus said he had poured the drink.
Now the story changed.
Nathan returned to the estate with police through the service entrance.
Grace refused to stay behind.
"Emma risked her life for Lily."
"And Lily needs you alive."
That ended the argument.
Grace stayed in the armored vehicle with Lily.
Inside, Nathan heard Marcus before he saw him.
"You were always the lucky one," Marcus said from the study.
Nathan stepped into view.
Emma sat tied to a chair.
Marcus held a pistol low at his side.
"Lucky?"
"Richard loved you. The board trusted you. Women believed you. And every time you walked away, I cleaned up what you left behind."
Nathan looked at Emma.
She was watching the floor.
A small red light blinked beneath the desk.
Her phone.
Recording again.
Nathan kept Marcus talking.
"You killed my father."
Marcus smiled.
"I corrected succession."
The words were enough.
Emma moved suddenly, kicking the desk lamp into Marcus's legs.
Nathan crossed the room.
The gun fired into the ceiling.
Police rushed in.
Marcus was tackled before he could recover.
As officers cuffed him, he laughed at Nathan.
"You think this ends with me?"
Nathan looked down.
On the desk was a signed transfer order from Cole Capital.
May you like
Authorized that morning.
By Daniel Mercer.
