Chapter 11 - THE EMPLOYEE WHO SAVED EVERYTHING
Jenna Park had been Ethan's assistant for four years.
She had seen everything.
Late meetings.
Strange expense reports.
Lauren entering Ethan's office after midnight.
At first, Jenna thought it was an affair.
Then she noticed Martin deleting attachments from Ethan's calendar.
So she began keeping backups.
"I was protecting myself," she told Grace.
"You protected hundreds of people," Grace replied.
Caleb opened Jenna's drive.
One folder contained wire instructions from Martin.
Another contained Lauren's emails to Victor.
Then they found a proposed sale of Walker Development.
Buyer: Pierce Urban Partners.
Sale price: far below market value.
Signed by Ethan.
Dated three days before the anniversary.
Grace stared at his signature.
"He already agreed to sell."
Caleb nodded.
Attached was a private side agreement.
Ethan would receive twelve million dollars if the deal closed.
Grace's stomach turned.
"He wasn't leaving me for Lauren."
Nathan read the paper.
"He was cashing out."
Grace looked at Jenna.
"Did Ethan know Pierce wanted Wren?"
"I heard Lauren tell him your family could make the deal complicated."
"How did he respond?"
Jenna swallowed.
"He said he'd handle you."
Grace went still.
Then the fire alarm screamed.
Smoke rolled from the records room.
Marcus shouted, "Everybody out!"
Grace turned toward the file room.
"The pension records."
Nathan grabbed her arm.
"No."
Marcus ran toward the smoke with an extinguisher.
Grace was forced into the stairwell.
Six floors down, a cramp cut across her stomach.
She gripped the railing.
Nathan's face went white.
"The baby?"
"I don't know."
Outside, paramedics checked her while firefighters entered.
The cramp eased.
The heartbeat stayed steady.
Then Marcus emerged covered in soot, carrying a scorched metal box.
Inside was the original Wren certificate.
A firefighter approached Detective Medina.
"Arson."
He held up a silver lighter in an evidence bag.
Two initials were engraved on it.
E.W.
Grace stared.
Ethan Walker.
Then her phone rang.
Lauren whispered, "You should have stayed home."
The line went dead.
Seconds later, firefighters found Martin unconscious in the basement.
May you like
As paramedics lifted him, he grabbed Grace's wrist.
"Ethan lit the fire."
