Chapter 13 - THE CHAPEL
The Cole family chapel sat fifty yards from the mansion, hidden behind a wall of rain.
Nathan wanted to go alone.
I told him I was done listening to men who thought dying by themselves counted as a plan.
Mrs. Alvarez stayed in the guest room with Sophia while Nathan and I crossed the courtyard through the storm.
The chapel doors were open.
Candles burned inside.
Vanessa stood at the altar in her ruined champagne dress.
Dr. Price was tied to a chair beside her.
Graham stood in the front pew.
No gun in sight.
That worried me more.
Graham smiled. "Nathan. You look terrible."
Nathan touched the blood at his ribs. "You should see your security budget."
Vanessa's mouth tightened.
"Give us the patent case," Graham said. "You leave with Maya, the child, and the staff. This ends tonight."
Nathan laughed once. "You drugged me for months, tried to burn my house, and now we shake hands?"
"You're alive."
"Not for lack of effort."
Graham looked at me. "Maya, you're a mother. You understand practical choices. Your daughter is vulnerable. Nathan is not your family."
I stepped closer.
"No. But Sophia is. And your sister watched her, threatened her, and sent armed men after her. So congratulations. You made this personal."
Vanessa grabbed Dr. Price by the hair.
"Tell them," she snapped.
Price's face twisted with pain.
"I destroyed the original trial data."
Nathan went still.
Graham smiled.
Price looked at me.
Then, below the chair, his fingers moved.
He was signing.
BAD LIE.
My heart jumped.
He knew some ASL.
Enough.
He kept signing beneath the pew line.
CHARGER. CROSS. CAR.
The evidence was in Cross's vehicle.
Vanessa pressed a knife to his throat.
"Say the rest."
Price swallowed. "Nathan, I falsified your diagnosis."
Nathan's face went hard.
Price's hands moved again.
SORRY.
Then he signed one last word.
RUN.
May you like
The chapel lights went out.
And somebody fired.
