Chapter 16 - MARIA’S CHOICE
Maria had not been abducted.
She had left willingly.
Security footage showed her walking out through the rear door after receiving a text.
The message came from Claire’s phone.
I KNOW WHO REALLY KILLED EMMA. COME ALONE OR LILY IS NEXT.
Maria went because she believed she could keep the danger away from my daughter.
I was furious.
I also understood.
Detective Ortiz traced Maria’s car toward Charlestown.
The same area where Claire claimed Grant kept the brake records.
We reached the storage complex with federal agents just after dawn.
Maria’s car was parked outside Unit 214.
The door was half open.
Inside, Maria sat tied to a chair.
Claire was on the floor beside her, bleeding from a cut above her eyebrow but conscious.
Grant stood behind them holding a handgun.
“Daniel,” he said, almost warmly. “There you are.”
Agents shouted commands.
Grant pressed the weapon near Maria’s shoulder.
“Everybody stays back.”
I stepped inside before anyone could stop me.
“You wanted me.”
“I wanted your father to understand business. You? I mostly wanted you out of the way.”
Claire stared at me. “Don’t listen to him.”
Grant kicked a metal box toward me.
“Open it.”
Inside were repair invoices for Emma’s car, photographs of cut brake lines, and an audio recorder.
My father’s voice played when I pressed the button.
“What did you do, Grant?”
Grant’s younger voice answered, “Solved the problem.”
Then my father said, “You idiot. I told you to scare her, not kill her.”
My knees nearly gave out.
Grant smiled.
“Your father knew. Claire knew. James knew enough. Everyone had a piece.”
Maria looked at me.
“Daniel, don’t give him what he wants.”
“What does he want?”
Grant pointed at a document on the floor.
May you like
A transfer of controlling shares.
“Your signature. In ink this time.”
