Chapter 16 - SHAW'S CONFESSION
Martin Shaw was arrested before noon.
He had stayed near the board building, waiting for Pike to contact him.
This time, he asked for Adrian.
They met in an interview room with two detectives watching through the glass.
"I didn't cut your father's brakes," he said.
Adrian sat across from him.
"Then who did?"
"A mechanic Pike paid."
"And you knew."
"Afterward."
"You hid the maintenance file."
"Pike threatened my daughter."
Adrian laughed bitterly.
"Everyone has a reason."
"I'm not asking you to forgive me."
Shaw slid a key across the table.
"I'm asking you to finish this."
The key belonged to a storage unit rented under Pike's assistant's name.
Inside, police found copies of the Carver transfers, forged medical papers, and recordings of Pike threatening Victoria.
They also found a passport and cash.
But he had not left yet.
One burner phone contained a recent message.
BRING THE CHILD IF WALKER REFUSES.
"He still wants Noah."
"Noah is leverage."
"The real target is Emma."
"Why?"
"Because she is the surviving Carver heir who can sign restitution away."
Adrian stood immediately.
At the mansion, Emma was packing.
He found her folding Noah's clothes.
"What are you doing?"
"Leaving."
"No."
"Pike wants me."
"Which is why you're staying where I can protect you."
"Noah almost got kidnapped because of me."
"Noah almost got kidnapped because of Pike."
"Adrian-"
"Stop taking responsibility for crimes other people chose to commit."
Emma stared at him.
"That is what this family has done for years."
Noah walked into the room holding Celeste's wedding ring.
Emma gasped.
"Where did you get that?"
"Lady gave me."
"What lady?"
Noah pointed toward the front staircase.
A door slammed downstairs.
The front entrance was open.
A black car disappeared through the gate.
On the floor lay a white envelope.
May you like
Inside was a note in Pike's handwriting.
EMILY SIGNS TONIGHT, OR NOAH LOSES ANOTHER MOTHER.
