Chapter 10 - The House on Alder Lane
Cullen spent the afternoon with federal financial investigators tracing foundation transfers. The money moved through shell companies, then into accounts connected to Bryce and Rourke.
Tove's name appeared nowhere.
That worried Cullen.
She had always been careful.
At 6:40 p.m., Nora called.
"I found the notary on the trust amendment."
"Is it real?"
"The stamp is. The signature isn't. The notary died three months before the document date."
Cullen closed his eyes.
Forgery. Fraud. Conspiracy.
Still not murder.
Then Vale entered carrying a folder.
"Blood from the Range Rover came back."
"Tove?"
"Bryce."
"Is he dead?"
"Unknown."
A traffic camera had captured Tove driving the Range Rover toward Alder Lane, an abandoned residential strip near the old paper mill. Twenty minutes later, a second camera showed her walking away alone.
Vale's team searched the area.
They found Bryce inside an empty house.
Alive.
Barely.
Cullen waited at the hospital while surgeons treated a stab wound to Bryce's abdomen.
At midnight, Bryce woke.
His first words were not about Tove.
"Where's the girl?"
Cullen stepped closer.
"Safe."
Bryce looked relieved.
"Keep her that way."
"Tell me what happened to Marisol."
Bryce's eyes filled with tears.
"It was supposed to scare her."
Cullen went still.
"What was?"
"The money. The threats. Taking the inhaler. Tove said Marisol would sign if she thought someone could reach Mireya."
Cullen fought the urge to hit him.
"And the crash?"
Bryce shook his head weakly.
"Rourke ran her off the road. Tove was behind him. I didn't know until after."
Vale leaned in. "Can you prove that?"
Bryce closed his eyes.
"Tove recorded everything. Insurance. She keeps copies."
"Where?"
Bryce opened his eyes again.
"In the place Marisol built for Mireya."
Cullen's stomach dropped.
"The garden cottage?"
Bryce nodded.
"And Tove knows you know now."
An alarm sounded in the hallway.
Vale turned toward the door.
Bryce grabbed Cullen's wrist.
May you like
"Don't go home."
Then the hospital lights went out.
