Chapter 13 - THE CALL FROM LAUREN
Grace forgot the wire on her coat.
Forgot the officers outside.
Forgot Ethan.
"What proof?"
Lauren looked toward the window.
"Maintenance records."
"Payments."
"A recording."
"Where?"
"I don't know."
"Victor thinks your father hid it in a family archive."
Grace's mind raced.
Then Lauren explained the real Southgate plan.
Walker Development was never the final prize.
Victor wanted access to Holloway's old network and Samuel's investigation.
Lauren had researched Grace before joining Ethan's company.
She knew Grace's real name.
She knew Ethan did not.
"So you seduced him for access."
Lauren did not flinch.
"Yes."
"You enjoyed it too."
A pause.
"Yes."
Grace nodded.
"Good."
Lauren frowned.
"Good?"
"At least you're done pretending you had no choices."
Lauren's eyes hardened.
"Victor had me trapped."
"And you trapped Ethan."
"Then Ethan tried to trap me."
"People can be victims and still become cruel."
Lauren looked away.
Grace asked the question that mattered.
"Did Ethan know about my mother's file?"
"Later."
"How much later?"
"Three weeks ago."
The same week he met the divorce attorney.
Grace felt sick.
"What did he agree to do?"
"Get your password."
Grace shut her eyes.
Ethan had asked about her father's old laptop.
He had called it curiosity.
Lauren pushed the pistol away.
"I have Victor's recordings on a cloud key."
"Give it to police."
"I will if they protect me."
A red dot appeared on the wall.
Lauren's face changed.
"Down!"
She pulled Grace behind the kitchen island.
The front window shattered.
A gunshot tore through the room.
Police rushed the neighboring construction site.
Marcus burst through the back door.
"Grace!"
"I'm okay."
Detective Medina entered minutes later.
"We have the shooter."
Lauren's phone buzzed.
A message from Victor.
YOU HAD ONE JOB.
Below it was a photograph.
Ethan sat in the back of a black SUV.
His hands were tied.
May you like
Grace stared at the image.
Victor had taken the one man who knew where Grace's father's key was hidden.
